Healthcare Power of Attorney
A healthcare power of attorney is a form specified by the South Carolina law which serves several purposes.
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The primary purpose of the form is for you to designate whom you would choose to make any and all medical decisions for you during any period of time in which you are mentally unable to make such decisions.
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The form also designates and authorizes your agent to review your medical records and discuss your medical condition with your physician and others under the federal HIPAA law (privacy in medicine law).
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The healthcare power of attorney gives you options on what course of action is to be taken should you ever become permanently unconscious or if you should have a terminal illness and not be expected to live but for a very short time. If you decide you would like medication removed from you during one of these conditions, you will also be able to decide if you wish to continue having a feeding tube.
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Finally, the healthcare power of attorney allows you to decide if, upon your death, you wish your agent to make a decision on transplantation of your organs and tissues.
There are certain legal requirements for who is eligible to witness this form, and those requirements are very plainly given at the beginning of the form.