Durable Power of Attorney (DOA)

Durable Power of Attorney (DPOA) is a legal document that gives authority to a trusted person to make decisions on behalf of another person if they are unable to do so themselves.

When someone is close to death, they may wish to designate someone to make important medical, financial and legal decisions for them.

These decisions may include the type of treatments to pursue, how to manage pain, paying bills or managing investments.

A Durable Power of Attorney is typically part of an Advance Directive, a series of legal documents that give instructions about the type of medical treatments and interventions a person may or may not want if they are unable to communicate.

When the document is specific only to health decisions it's known as Medical Power of Attorney.