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A health care power of attorney agent (also known as a health care proxy or attorney-in-fact) is someone you appoint to make medical decisions on your behalf when you're unable to make them yourself.
Typically, people appoint a friend or family member to serve in that role, but some don't have anyone willing and able to advocate for their medical wishes. Others want a backup in case their primary agent isn't available.
If you're one of those people and live in Ohio, consider hiring me as your health care power of attorney agent. I'll make sure, to the best of my abilities, that your wishes are honored.
The Founder of HealthCarePOA, LLC
Hi, my name is Jason Chen. I'm a certified health care ethics consultant and a medical ethicist with a PhD in philosophy.
I've worked as a patient advocate at The James Cancer Hospital and as a clinical bioethics fellow at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.
I currently teach medical ethics at OSU and at The University of Akron. Additionally, I'm an advisory member of the OSU ethics committee.
As a strong proponent of respecting patient autonomy, I'd be honored to make medical decisions for you according to your values.
Why hire a professional?
First, you may not have anyone, or anyone you trust, to name in your health care power of attorney. And if you don’t have anyone and become incapacitated, a complete stranger will be assigned to be your guardian, who, in many cases, will be ignorant of your wishes and values.
Second, you may only have your spouse, who is equally old and has their own health problems. In such cases, you would benefit from hiring a professional to serve as a backup.
Third, loved ones are often too emotionally invested, whereas a professional can be objective while making decisions according to your values.
Fourth, a professional will have a structured conversation about your wishes and values and ensure everything is documented.
Fifth, your loved ones may not want the responsibility to make medical decisions for you because it would weigh too heavily on them.
Sixth, hiring a professional could prevent bitter family disputes because it takes decision-making out of your family’s hands.
Seventh, a professional is often more reliable than a nonprofessional. A professional will be on call for you 24/7 and show up to meetings.
Eighth, you may not have anyone local and therefore may not have anyone to advocate for you in the hospital.
Ninth, a professional can act calmly under pressure because they’re familiar with the medical system, and they have good medical literacy.
And tenth, a professional serves as a single point of contact, ensuring all advance care planning documents are organized and easily accessible.
How does it work?
The first step is for me to get to know you as a person, which means we'll have an in-depth conversation about your wishes and values. After documenting this, I'll have you sign it.
The next step is for you to execute a health care power of attorney. There are other documents that you may want to fill out too, such as a living will and a donor registry form.
The final step is to give me and your doctor the executed documents and to notify those in your life that you've named me as your health care power of attorney agent.
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