{"id":13254,"date":"2026-02-02T16:12:06","date_gmt":"2026-02-02T22:12:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/legaltalktexas.hammerle.com\/?p=13254"},"modified":"2026-02-02T16:12:18","modified_gmt":"2026-02-02T22:12:18","slug":"scripting-out-the-talk-what-to-tell-your-medical-power-of-attorney-agent","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hammerle.com\/legaltalk\/estate-planning\/scripting-out-the-talk-what-to-tell-your-medical-power-of-attorney-agent\/","title":{"rendered":"Scripting Out \u201cThe Talk\u201d &#8211; What To Tell Your Medical Power of Attorney Agent"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2><b>Why You Still Need to Talk to Your Medical Power of Attorney Agent<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Congratulations on signing your <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/hammerle.com\/legaltalk\/wills-trusts\/keeping-track-of-your-estate-planning-documents\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">estate planning document<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">s! I am so sorry to be the one to tell you, but there is still one big task left to do: you should instruct your agents on their duties.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I understand that may be intimidating, so let\u2019s do a bit of role-playing to help get you through it.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>A Scripted Conversation With Your Texas Medical Power of Attorney Agent<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We\u2019ll start with a phone call to your friend Sam, whom you designated as your agent on your Texas <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/hammerle.com\/legaltalk\/wills-trusts\/why-a-medical-power-of-attorney-is-important\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">medical power of attorney<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Opening the Conversation With Your Agent<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You: \u201cHello, Sam? It\u2019s me. Yeah, I just wanted to tell you that I did go ahead and name you as my primary agent on my medical power of attorney. I really appreciate you agreeing to serve.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>When a Medical Power of Attorney Takes Effect<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There\u2019s nothing for you to do right now; I\u2019m feeling fine. This document is for the road when I get sick. Your job as my agent doesn\u2019t start until my attending physician has certified in writing that I am incompetent and filed it in my medical record. You know, if I have a stroke or get dementia or something like that.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Your Rights Even After Being Declared Incompetent<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Even if the doctor has said I am incompetent, the doctor is supposed to make reasonable efforts to inform me about any proposed treatment, or withdrawing or withholding treatment. If I object, then my decision is binding, and you\u2019re off the hook.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>How Healthcare Decisions Are Made by Your Agent<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But if I don\u2019t object or decide, then you will need to consult with the doctors and other health care providers to make that <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/hammerle.com\/legaltalk\/estate-planning\/healthcare-experts-and-the-law\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">healthcare <\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">decision for me. You can, and probably should, request and review my medical and hospital records. You can execute a release required to obtain the information.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>The Standard Your Agent Must Follow<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What criteria should you use to make your decision on my healthcare? It should be based on my wishes, including my religious and moral beliefs. So, I guess I should tell you what those are.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Sharing Important Medical Information With Your Agent<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Would you have time to meet for lunch \u2013 my treat! \u2013 next week and talk about it? You can? That\u2019s great. My lawyer suggested that I give you a folder containing a copy of the medical power of attorney, a list of my physicians, my current medications, and my medical history, so I\u2019ll bring that with me.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Of course, things may change, and I\u2019ll keep an updated folder at home in the top drawer of that unlocked filing cabinet in the second bedroom.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>How the Medical Power of Attorney Was Properly Signed<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Speaking of my law firm, they actually drafted my medical power of attorney and supervised me signing it, before 2 witnesses. I did that to forestall any questions about its validity.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>How Long the Agent\u2019s Authority Lasts<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Anyway, once the doctor declares that I am incompetent, you will serve as my agent until I revoke the medical power of attorney or I become competent. I can revoke it verbally or in writing, or by signing a new medical power of attorney.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>What a Medical Power of Attorney Agent Cannot Do<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are still things you won\u2019t have the power to consent to, such as voluntary inpatient mental health services, convulsive treatment, psychosurgery, abortion, or omitting care primarily intended to provide for my comfort.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Which brings up a good point \u2013 I will tell you at our lunch how I feel about medical marijuana.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>What Happens if a Doctor Refuses to Follow Instructions<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What if one of the doctors won\u2019t follow your directions? Then you can select a different physician for me.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Backup Agents and Supporting Documents<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I also named 2 back-up agents in case you cannot or do not want to serve when the time comes. And I signed a HIPAA release and Directive to Physicians \u2013 more on that when we meet!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Final Takeaway<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">See how easy that was? Next week, we\u2019ll script the talk for the agent on your durable (financial) power of attorney.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Hammerle Morris Is Here to Help You Plan With Confidence<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Having a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/hammerle.com\/practice-areas\/estate-planning\/powers-of-attorney\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">medical <\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">power of attorney is only part of the process. Clearly explaining your wishes and your agent\u2019s role helps ensure healthcare decisions are carried out as intended when it matters most.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/hammerle.com\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Hammerle Morris Law Firm<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, we help clients create estate plans that work in real-life situations, not just on paper. Schedule a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/hammerle.com\/lewisville-attorney\/#form\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">consultation <\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">to protect your intentions and your peace of mind.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Virginia Hammerle is an accredited estate planner and represents clients in estate planning, probate, guardianship, and contested litigation. She may be reached at <\/span><\/i><a href=\"mailto:legaltalktexas@hammerle.com\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">legaltalktexas@hammerle.com<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. This blog contains general information only and does not constitute legal advice.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Why You Still Need to Talk to Your Medical Power of Attorney Agent Congratulations on signing your estate planning documents! I am so sorry to be the one to tell you, but there is still one big task left to do: you should instruct your agents on their duties. I understand that may be intimidating, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":13255,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[1224],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-13254","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-estate-planning"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Medical Power of Attorney | Hammerle Morris Law Firm<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn how to talk with your medical power of attorney about your wishes, responsibilities, and next steps after signing your estate plan.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/hammerle.com\/legaltalk\/estate-planning\/scripting-out-the-talk-what-to-tell-your-medical-power-of-attorney-agent\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Medical Power of Attorney | Hammerle Morris Law Firm\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Learn how to talk with your medical power of attorney about your wishes, responsibilities, and next steps after signing your estate plan.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/hammerle.com\/legaltalk\/estate-planning\/scripting-out-the-talk-what-to-tell-your-medical-power-of-attorney-agent\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Hammerle Morris Law Firm\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-02-02T22:12:06+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-02-02T22:12:18+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/hammerle.com\/legaltalk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/2-1.-Scripting-Out-The-Talk.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2120\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1414\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Virginia Hammerle\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Virginia Hammerle\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/hammerle.com\\\/legaltalk\\\/estate-planning\\\/scripting-out-the-talk-what-to-tell-your-medical-power-of-attorney-agent\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/hammerle.com\\\/legaltalk\\\/estate-planning\\\/scripting-out-the-talk-what-to-tell-your-medical-power-of-attorney-agent\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Virginia Hammerle\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/hammerle.com\\\/legaltalk\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/3a35dce360aad1cd9da53574c3c1a6bd\"},\"headline\":\"Scripting Out \u201cThe Talk\u201d &#8211; 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