Medical Power of Attorney

A Medical Power of Attorney appoints a trusted person to consent to or refuse medical treatment on your behalf if you lose capacity to decide. It covers health and treatment decisions specifically, distinct from the money and property handled under an Enduring Power of Attorney. The person you appoint should know your values, and works hand in hand with any Advance Care Directive you have written. In several states this role has been folded into broader guardianship or "medical treatment decision maker" appointments.

You appoint your medical decision-maker while you have capacity, choosing someone who will follow your wishes even under pressure from other family members. Example: Daniel appointed his sister as his medical treatment decision maker because she understood his wish to prioritise quality of life over aggressive intervention. The label differs by state — Victoria uses "Medical Treatment Decision Maker", while in NSW these decisions usually sit with an Enduring Guardian — so the correct instrument depends on where you live.