Is a health care power of attorney different from a living will?
Yes and no. The emphasis in a health care power of attorney is on designating a person to make your health care decisions in any case of incapacity or when you are unable to speak, which is not limited to life threatening conditions. It may be used in situations involving a temporary or long-term disability. The emphasis in a living will is on the type of care, or extent of treatment, you wish to receive specifically in life threatening or end of life circumstances, such as whether to continue artificial feeding, etc. However, for the vast majority of states, it is possible to combine a health care power of attorney with a living will in one document, and we have done this wherever possible.
