Wisconsin Medical Society POAHC Forms

Advance Care Planning & Advance Directive by the Wisconsin Medical Society

If you don’t complete a power of attorney for health care, no one can automatically make health care decisions for you in the event that you lose your ability to do so.
Completing a power of attorney for health care lets YOU select, ahead of time, the individual YOU want to make health care decisions for you in the event that you lose your ability to make decisions.
Completing a power of attorney for health care lets YOU select, ahead of time, the health care or health care providers YOU do or don’t want.
Completing a power of attorney for health care is a gift to your family and friends because they won’t be left wondering who you would want to make decisions for you and what you would want.
Completing a power of attorney for health care means decisions will be made faster for you, rather than having to wait for a court to appoint a guardian to make decisions.

Completing a power of attorney for health care will most likely avoid the need for guardianship. Avoiding a guardianship is important—guardianships can be expensive, time-consuming, and emotionally draining on families.
The agent you name in a power of attorney for health care to make decisions for you has more flexibility and ultimately more freedom than a guardian.
Completing a power of attorney for health care helps avoid family fights and disagreements. In completing the document, you specify who you want as your agent and can also specify what you want and when you want it. Without one, family members are left to guess—or pay lawyers to have a court decide.
Completing a power of attorney for health care is free if you use the state form. If you don’t complete a power of attorney for health care and a guardianship is later needed, there may be significant costs.

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