Choosing a medical power of attorney helps control healthcare decisions in South Carolina

Local experts on Aging Untold, as reported by Live 5 WCSC, emphasize the importance of selecting a medical power of attorney to maintain control over healthcare decisions if you become unable to make them yourself.

Gerontologist Sam Cradduck explained that the person named in this role can make a wide range of decisions, including surgery consent, placement in rehab or assisted living, and caregiver selection. It is crucial that this person understands and advocates for your wishes rather than their own emotions.

Aging expert Amy O’Rourke cautioned that married couples should not assume a spouse automatically has decision-making power without the proper legal document. Hospitals may refuse to recognize a spouse's authority without a medical power of attorney, depending on state laws.

Cradduck also stressed the necessity of having the physical document available, as healthcare providers are not obligated to honor verbal claims of power of attorney without the paperwork. This can be critical in emergencies such as car accidents, where immediate decisions are required.

Choosing a trusted healthcare proxy is a key step for South Carolina residents to ensure their medical preferences are honored if they cannot speak for themselves.

What we're watching: How awareness and understanding of medical power of attorney documents grow among Charleston-area residents to improve healthcare decision-making.