
1 Elder Law Practice in Tennessee § 11.04
Summary
- [a] Definition.
A durable power of attorney for health care is a durable power of attorney generally (discussed in Chapter 9) in which the principal names an attorney-in-fact to make health care decisions for him.1
To be effective as a durable power of attorney for health care, the document must comply with the Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care statute,2
and the Tennessee Health Care Decisions Act.3
This is in contrast to a living will, which need not comply strictly with the Right to Natural Death Act to be enforceable, but instead may be construed, according to the Attorney General, as a “medical consent statement.”4
Should the financial and health care power of attorney provisions be blended in one instrument? While this may reduce client costs and make for one less document to keep track of, Mac Lean offers the following five reasons for ...