Medical Power of Attorney for a Minor Child

Most of us at one time or another allow our children to visit a favorite relative or friend without us, let them go on a Scout trip, or let them go on a church outing.  The one thing all of these events have in common is that your children are not in your immediate care and if something should happen to them you may not be readily available to make choices about their medical care.

Just as you can create a Medical Power of Attorney for yourself, you can assign this power to another for the benefit of your minor child.

This planning is simple to do and is advisable even when no trips away from home are planned.  What happens to your child if your family is in an accident and you are not conscious to make medical decisions on behalf of your child?  If you have planned ahead with a Medical Power of Attorney for your minor child your doctors may have some direction on who they can contact for immediate decisions until you or your spouse are well enough to return to your parental responsibilities.

Because of the nature of this planning, it is not uncommon to give Grandma & Grandpa other powers of attorney as well such as financial powers and power to deal with schools.  That way if something happens to you, there is always someone who has authority to deal with government and private interests on behalf of your child.