The POA in its traditional form does not work well as a method for dealing with medical decision-making authority on a voluntary, prospective basis. The ordinary POA ends automatically when the principal who created it dies or becomes mentally incompetent. The underlying theory is that, because ...
partner, Richard, has a signed durable power of attorney (DPOA) and states that if the patient's condition becomes futile the patient would not want ongoing ventilation. As the ICU attending you decide that ongoing intubation is futile. You consult with Richard and decide to ...