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 Wisconsin Statutes (Last Updated: January 10, 2017)
 Chapter 155. Power Of Attorney For Health Care

  Section 155.30. Power of attorney for health care instrument; form.  

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    (1)  A printed form of a power of attorney for health care instrument that is sold or otherwise distributed for use by an individual in this state who does not have the advice of legal counsel shall provide no authority other than the authority to make health care decisions on behalf of the principal and shall contain the following statement in not less than 10-point boldface type:
    “NOTICE TO PERSON
    MAKING THIS DOCUMENT
    YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT YOUR HEALTH CARE. NO HEALTH CARE MAY BE GIVEN TO YOU OVER YOUR OBJECTION, AND NECESSARY HEALTH CARE MAY NOT BE STOPPED OR WITHHELD IF YOU OBJECT.
    BECAUSE YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS IN SOME CASES MAY NOT HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ESTABLISH A LONG-TERM RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU, THEY ARE OFTEN UNFAMILIAR WITH YOUR BELIEFS AND VALUES AND THE DETAILS OF YOUR FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS. THIS POSES A PROBLEM IF YOU BECOME PHYSICALLY OR MENTALLY UNABLE TO MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT YOUR HEALTH CARE.
    IN ORDER TO AVOID THIS PROBLEM, YOU MAY SIGN THIS LEGAL DOCUMENT TO SPECIFY THE PERSON WHOM YOU WANT TO MAKE HEALTH CARE DECISIONS FOR YOU IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS PERSONALLY. THAT PERSON IS KNOWN AS YOUR HEALTH CARE AGENT. YOU SHOULD TAKE SOME TIME TO DISCUSS YOUR THOUGHTS AND BELIEFS ABOUT MEDICAL TREATMENT WITH THE PERSON OR PERSONS WHOM YOU HAVE SPECIFIED. YOU MAY STATE IN THIS DOCUMENT ANY TYPES OF HEALTH CARE THAT YOU DO OR DO NOT DESIRE, AND YOU MAY LIMIT THE AUTHORITY OF YOUR HEALTH CARE AGENT. IF YOUR HEALTH CARE AGENT IS UNAWARE OF YOUR DESIRES WITH RESPECT TO A PARTICULAR HEALTH CARE DECISION, HE OR SHE IS REQUIRED TO DETERMINE WHAT WOULD BE IN YOUR BEST INTERESTS IN MAKING THE DECISION.
    THIS IS AN IMPORTANT LEGAL DOCUMENT. IT GIVES YOUR AGENT BROAD POWERS TO MAKE HEALTH CARE DECISIONS FOR YOU. IT REVOKES ANY PRIOR POWER OF ATTORNEY FOR HEALTH CARE THAT YOU MAY HAVE MADE. IF YOU WISH TO CHANGE YOUR POWER OF ATTORNEY FOR HEALTH CARE, YOU MAY REVOKE THIS DOCUMENT AT ANY TIME BY DESTROYING IT, BY DIRECTING ANOTHER PERSON TO DESTROY IT IN YOUR PRESENCE, BY SIGNING A WRITTEN AND DATED STATEMENT OR BY STATING THAT IT IS REVOKED IN THE PRESENCE OF TWO WITNESSES. IF YOU REVOKE, YOU SHOULD NOTIFY YOUR AGENT, YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS AND ANY OTHER PERSON TO WHOM YOU HAVE GIVEN A COPY. IF YOUR AGENT IS YOUR SPOUSE OR DOMESTIC PARTNER AND YOUR MARRIAGE IS ANNULLED OR YOU ARE DIVORCED OR THE DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIP IS TERMINATED AFTER SIGNING THIS DOCUMENT, THE DOCUMENT IS INVALID.
    YOU MAY ALSO USE THIS DOCUMENT TO MAKE OR REFUSE TO MAKE AN ANATOMICAL GIFT UPON YOUR DEATH. IF YOU USE THIS DOCUMENT TO MAKE OR REFUSE TO MAKE AN ANATOMICAL GIFT, THIS DOCUMENT REVOKES ANY PRIOR RECORD OF GIFT THAT YOU MAY HAVE MADE. YOU MAY REVOKE OR CHANGE ANY ANATOMICAL GIFT THAT YOU MAKE BY THIS DOCUMENT BY CROSSING OUT THE ANATOMICAL GIFTS PROVISION IN THIS DOCUMENT.
    DO NOT SIGN THIS DOCUMENT UNLESS YOU CLEARLY UNDERSTAND IT.
    IT IS SUGGESTED THAT YOU KEEP THE ORIGINAL OF THIS DOCUMENT ON FILE WITH YOUR PHYSICIAN."
    (2)  A power of attorney for health care instrument that is other than that specified in sub. (1) or (3) shall include either the notice specified in sub. (1) or a certificate signed by the principal's lawyer stating: “I am a lawyer authorized to practice law in Wisconsin. I have advised my client concerning his or her rights in connection with this power of attorney for health care and the applicable law."
    (3)  The department shall prepare and provide copies of a power of attorney for health care instrument and accompanying information for distribution in quantities to health care professionals, hospitals, nursing homes, multipurpose senior centers, county clerks, and local bar associations and individually to private persons. The department shall include, in information accompanying the copy of the instrument, at least the statutory definitions of terms used in the instrument, statutory restrictions on who may be witnesses to a valid instrument, a statement explaining that valid witnesses acting in good faith are statutorily immune from civil or criminal liability and a statement explaining that an instrument may, but need not, be filed with the register in probate of the principal's county of residence. The department may charge a reasonable fee for the cost of preparation and distribution. The power of attorney for health care instrument distributed by the department shall include the notice specified in sub. (1) and shall be in the following form:
    POWER OF ATTORNEY FOR HEALTH CARE
    Document made this.... day of.... (month),.... (year).
    CREATION OF POWER OF ATTORNEY
    FOR HEALTH CARE
    I,.... (print name, address and date of birth), being of sound mind, intend by this document to create a power of attorney for health care. My executing this power of attorney for health care is voluntary. Despite the creation of this power of attorney for health care, I expect to be fully informed about and allowed to participate in any health care decision for me, to the extent that I am able. For the purposes of this document, “health care decision" means an informed decision to accept, maintain, discontinue or refuse any care, treatment, service or procedure to maintain, diagnose or treat my physical or mental condition.
    In addition, I may, by this document, specify my wishes with respect to making an anatomical gift upon my death.
    DESIGNATION OF HEALTH CARE AGENT
    If I am no longer able to make health care decisions for myself, due to my incapacity, I hereby designate.... (print name, address and telephone number) to be my health care agent for the purpose of making health care decisions on my behalf. If he or she is ever unable or unwilling to do so, I hereby designate.... (print name, address and telephone number) to be my alternate health care agent for the purpose of making health care decisions on my behalf. Neither my health care agent nor my alternate health care agent whom I have designated is my health care provider, an employee of my health care provider, an employee of a health care facility in which I am a patient or a spouse of any of those persons, unless he or she is also my relative. For purposes of this document, “incapacity" exists if 2 physicians or a physician and a psychologist who have personally examined me sign a statement that specifically expresses their opinion that I have a condition that means that I am unable to receive and evaluate information effectively or to communicate decisions to such an extent that I lack the capacity to manage my health care decisions. A copy of that statement must be attached to this document.
    GENERAL STATEMENT OF AUTHORITY GRANTED
    Unless I have specified otherwise in this document, if I ever have incapacity I instruct my health care provider to obtain the health care decision of my health care agent, if I need treatment, for all of my health care and treatment. I have discussed my desires thoroughly with my health care agent and believe that he or she understands my philosophy regarding the health care decisions I would make if I were able. I desire that my wishes be carried out through the authority given to my health care agent under this document.
    If I am unable, due to my incapacity, to make a health care decision, my health care agent is instructed to make the health care decision for me, but my health care agent should try to discuss with me any specific proposed health care if I am able to communicate in any manner, including by blinking my eyes. If this communication cannot be made, my health care agent shall base his or her decision on any health care choices that I have expressed prior to the time of the decision. If I have not expressed a health care choice about the health care in question and communication cannot be made, my health care agent shall base his or her health care decision on what he or she believes to be in my best interest.
    LIMITATIONS ON MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT
    My health care agent may not admit or commit me on an inpatient basis to an institution for mental diseases, an intermediate care facility for persons with an intellectual disability, a state treatment facility or a treatment facility. My health care agent may not consent to experimental mental health research or psychosurgery, electroconvulsive treatment or drastic mental health treatment procedures for me.
    ADMISSION TO NURSING HOMES OR
    COMMUNITY-BASED RESIDENTIAL FACILITIES
    My health care agent may admit me to a nursing home or community-based residential facility for short-term stays for recuperative care or respite care.
    If I have checked “Yes" to the following, my health care agent may admit me for a purpose other than recuperative care or respite care, but if I have checked “No" to the following, my health care agent may not so admit me:
    1. A nursing home — Yes.... No....
    2. A community-based residential facility — Yes.... No....
    If I have not checked either “Yes" or “No" immediately above, my health care agent may admit me only for short-term stays for recuperative care or respite care.
    PROVISION OF A FEEDING TUBE
    If I have checked “Yes" to the following, my health care agent may have a feeding tube withheld or withdrawn from me, unless my physician has advised that, in his or her professional judgment, this will cause me pain or will reduce my comfort. If I have checked “No" to the following, my health care agent may not have a feeding tube withheld or withdrawn from me.
    My health care agent may not have orally ingested nutrition or hydration withheld or withdrawn from me unless provision of the nutrition or hydration is medically contraindicated.
    Withhold or withdraw a feeding tube — Yes.... No....
    If I have not checked either “Yes" or “No" immediately above, my health care agent may not have a feeding tube withdrawn from me.
    HEALTH CARE DECISIONS FOR
    PREGNANT WOMEN
    If I have checked “Yes" to the following, my health care agent may make health care decisions for me even if my agent knows I am pregnant. If I have checked “No" to the following, my health care agent may not make health care decisions for me if my health care agent knows I am pregnant.
    Health care decision if I am pregnant — Yes.... No....
    If I have not checked either “Yes" or “No" immediately above, my health care agent may not make health care decisions for me if my health care agent knows I am pregnant.
    STATEMENT OF DESIRES,
    SPECIAL PROVISIONS OR LIMITATIONS
    In exercising authority under this document, my health care agent shall act consistently with my following stated desires, if any, and is subject to any special provisions or limitations that I specify. The following are specific desires, provisions or limitations that I wish to state (add more items if needed):
    1) -
    2) -
    3) -
    INSPECTION AND DISCLOSURE OF
    INFORMATION RELATING TO MY PHYSICAL
    OR MENTAL HEALTH
    Subject to any limitations in this document, my health care agent has the authority to do all of the following:
    (a) Request, review and receive any information, oral or written, regarding my physical or mental health, including medical and hospital records.
    (b) Execute on my behalf any documents that may be required in order to obtain this information.
    (c) Consent to the disclosure of this information.
    (The principal and the witnesses all must sign the document at the same time.)
    SIGNATURE OF PRINCIPAL
    (person creating the power of attorney for health care)
    Signature....  Date....
    (The signing of this document by the principal revokes all previous powers of attorney for health care documents.)
    STATEMENT OF WITNESSES
    I know the principal personally and I believe him or her to be of sound mind and at least 18 years of age. I believe that his or her execution of this power of attorney for health care is voluntary. I am at least 18 years of age, am not related to the principal by blood, marriage, or adoption, am not the domestic partner under ch. 770 of the principal, and am not directly financially responsible for the principal's health care. I am not a health care provider who is serving the principal at this time, an employee of the health care provider, other than a chaplain or a social worker, or an employee, other than a chaplain or a social worker, of an inpatient health care facility in which the declarant is a patient. I am not the principal's health care agent. To the best of my knowledge, I am not entitled to and do not have a claim on the principal's estate.
    Witness No. 1:
    (print) Name.... Date....
    Address....
    Signature....
    Witness No. 2:
    (print) Name.... Date....
    Address....
    Signature....
    STATEMENT OF HEALTH CARE AGENT AND
    ALTERNATE HEALTH CARE AGENT
    I understand that.... (name of principal) has designated me to be his or her health care agent or alternate health care agent if he or she is ever found to have incapacity and unable to make health care decisions himself or herself. .... (name of principal) has discussed his or her desires regarding health care decisions with me.
    Agent's signature....
    Address....
    Alternate's signature....
    Address....
    Failure to execute a power of attorney for health care document under chapter 155 of the Wisconsin Statutes creates no presumption about the intent of any individual with regard to his or her health care decisions.
    This power of attorney for health care is executed as provided in chapter 155 of the Wisconsin Statutes.
    ANATOMICAL GIFTS (optional)
    Upon my death:
    .... I wish to donate only the following organs or parts: .... (specify the organs or parts).
    .... I wish to donate any needed organ or part.
    .... I wish to donate my body for anatomical study if needed.
    .... I refuse to make an anatomical gift. (If this revokes a prior commitment that I have made to make an anatomical gift to a designated donee, I will attempt to notify the donee to which or to whom I agreed to donate.)
    Failing to check any of the lines immediately above creates no presumption about my desire to make or refuse to make an anatomical gift.
    Signature....     Date....