Durable Power of Attorney

Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital’s policy recognizes the personal rights of an individual patient to make voluntary, informed choices to accept, reject, or choose among available alternative courses of medical treatment. If you are no longer able to make decisions for yourself, a Durable Power of Attorney is a legal document in which you name another person such as a family member (or close friend) whom you entrust to make decisions for you.

General Durable Power of Attorney, Effective Only Upon My Incapacity

You sign this document in order to give your agent authority to act on your behalf ONLY in the event that you become unable to act for yourself.

This authority can be very broad, or quite narrow, depending on your wishes.

General Durable Power of Attorney

You sign this document in order to give your agent authority to act on your behalf.

This document allows your agent to act on your behalf at all times, both in the event that you become unable to act for yourself or even if you retain the ability and authority to act for yourself.

Advance Directive for Health Care – Designation of Health Care Representative

Aside from the financial power of attorney documents, there is also a third type of power of attorney which deals only with health care. This document is the Advance Directive for Health Care – Designation of Health Care Representative.

You sign this document to appoint your health care representative with authority to make medical decisions for you when you become unable to make them yourself, or to state what kinds of treatment you would or would not want, or to do both. Creating a “power of attorney” has important consequences for your health care. Everyone entering the Hospital should consider formulating a “Durable Power of Attorney” so that everyone involved with your treatment will be aware of your wishes, and whether you are outlining any requests or restrictions.

For more information please contact the Department of Case Management (732) 937-8702.

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