In British Columbia, you have the ability to appoint someone to act on your behalf for legal and financial matters through a Power of Attorney. It does not give that person the power to make medical or care decisions for you.
An adult in British Columbia is always assumed to have ability to make their own care decisions and no medical practitioner in British Columbia may perform any procedure or care routine without your consent (emergency situations can imply consent).
So what happens if you are not able to give consent, either because you are unconscious or not mentally capable?
- The medical system in British Columbia has a protocol for “Temporary Substitute Decision Makers”, usually family members, to accept or decline care on your behalf.
- You can take responsibility for your own decisions through an Advanced Directive, which states in writing which care you will accept and which care you will not accept.
- You can appoint a person or persons to make health and other care decisions on your behalf, through a Representation Agreement. Dale can draft an agreement that gives authority for your Representative or Representatives to make medical and care decisions, including, if you wish, the right to deny life sustaining care.
- A more limited Representation Agreement can sometimes be used where the person giving the appointment has limited capacity, such as due to the onset of dementia. We can help with those difficult times.
- If circumstances require, Dale will make home or hospital visits by appointment and for a fee.
For fees for Wills, Powers of Attorney, Representation Agreements and Notarizations, click here.