Free Indiana Medical Power of Attorney Forms
An Indiana medical power of attorney (POA) is alternatively known as Form 56184. It is a document that allows a person to appoint a healthcare representative who can make medical decisions on their behalf. The person granting the authority and the one initiating the POA is called the principal while the person who is given the authority to make healthcare-related decisions for someone else is the agent.
Indiana Medical Power of Attorney Laws
- Health Care Powers - The medical POA gives the agent permission to manage the healthcare of the principal when they become incapacitated. This authority includes employing servants or healthcare providers, consenting or refusing medical treatments or procedures, admission or release from a hospital or facility, and access to medical records (IC § 30-5-5-16).
- Duties of Healthcare Providers - According to this section of the IC, the POA should be made part of the medical records of the principal. “A healthcare provider shall comply with a healthcare decision made by an attorney-in-fact under a power of attorney if the decision is communicated to the provider. The provider may continue to administer treatment for the principal’s comfort, care, or the alleviation of pain in addition to treatment made under the decision of the attorney-in-fact” (IC § 30-5-7).
Signing Requirements in Indiana
In order to make an Indiana POA legal and valid, it must be signed by the principal and witnessed by an individual who is at least 18 years old. Verification from a notary public is not necessary (IC § 16-36-1-7).
How To Write a Medical POA in Indiana
If you have reason to believe that you may be too incompetent to make important healthcare decisions on your own in the future, you should enact an Indiana medical POA or Form 56184. Here are the steps to making one:
1. Appoint someone you trust as an agent
Finding an agent you trust is crucial because your agent may have to make life-and-death decisions for you should you become incompetent.
The agent can be someone related to you — your spouse, parent, child, friend, or spiritual adviser. Before naming someone an agent in your POA, talk to your candidate about their potential responsibilities. Mention specific wishes about medical treatments and procedures. Don’t forget to discuss instructions after your death if you have any. Make sure they understand and accept the responsibility.
2. Create your medical POA in Indiana
For convenience, download a printable template of the medical POA. Find a statutory form because it contains all the necessary information about medical POAs in Indiana. Fill out the form. There are spaces there for your personal information and the personal details of your healthcare representative or agent.
There are also spaces on the form where you can write down your wishes. Essentially, the form acts as documented instructions on how your agent should manage your healthcare.
3. Review the POA
As soon as you are done with the document, review the POA multiple times and make sure you understand everything written on it. If there are things you don’t understand, you must ask a lawyer or a legal expert. Then, you must review your notes to ensure you have not forgotten anything.
4. Sign the Indiana medical POA
Sign the form in front of a witness who will also sign the document. Indiana doesn’t require a notary public to authenticate the POA.
5. Distribute the medical POA to significant individuals
Now that the medical POA is complete, you must furnish copies to relevant people. First, store your copy in a safe place. Inform your immediate family and your agent where it is. Second, the agent should also have their own copy so that they are aware of your wishes and instructions. Other people who should have copies of the POA are your physician and healthcare provider so they will be aware of your medical wishes.