Appoint an Agent (Medical Power of Attorney)

Appointing a Medical Attorney

DWDV form 02b (PDF format) allows you to appoint an Agent who has Power of Attorney to make decisions about medical treatment on your behalf when you are unable to do so.

This Enduring Power of Attorney (Medical Treatment) does not allow an agent to make decisions about a person's affairs other than those about medical treatment. It is not to be confused with the Power of Attorney (Financial) that most people are familiar with.

You do not require your doctor’s approval to appoint such an agent. However, giving your doctor a copy of the completed form is wise, so that he or she can place it with your medical records for future reference.

It does not come into effect until you are no longer able to make your own decision. A patient retains the responsibility to make their own decisions if they are able to do so.

The form must be completed in the presence of two witnesses, one of whom must be a person authorised by law to witness a statutory declaration. These are listed on the form and include bank managers, doctors, solicitors, ministers of religion, councillors and town clerks, post office managers, teachers, police officers, pharmacists and justices of the peace.

Special Member Service

As a member of DWDV we can help you with answers to some of the most frequently asked questions (FAQs) such as:

• Can I appoint my spouse or someone who will financially benefit from my death?
• Can I appoint two people as agents?
• My family is too emotionally involved and none of them wants to act as my agent. What can I do?
• Can I appoint a person who lives interstate or overseas?

Answers to these and other important questions appear in DWDV form 02a, available only to DWDV members. You can become a DWDV member here...

Cancelling a Power of Attorney

You can cancel an existing medical power of attorney at any time in writing using DWDV form 02c.