A separate document is needed as stated by the Health Care Proxy Law by the State of New York, appointing your health care agent so to speak. Medical hospitals will not honor the provisions stated in the living will. It can state the medical wishes of the person but it does not appoint anyone from making the decisions for them. Do not be misled by the term, though, because an attorney-in-fact does not have to be a lawyer. Your document also has to be tailored to your particular needs and wishes so that you have nothing to worry about in the future. To put it simply, this legal term is a medium for granting an individual the right to make medical, financial, and other decisions on your behalf. To make the selection process a bit easier for you, take heed of the following considerations that you must include when nominating a person in your power of attorney. Age It is a basic factor in determining whether someone is fit to become your attorney-in-fact. You must choose a person who is a lot younger than you are since he or she can carry out the responsibilities for a longer time compared to the older ones. If they cannot make it to one area, they usually send a representative with a power of attorney to sign their documents for them. In corporations, the grantee or the proxy (the one given the power of attorney) is often an attorney to keep things legal but in truth, anybody can be given a power of attorney, even those who are not lawyers. An agent or attorney-in-fact who handles your health care differs from a successor in a living trust. The agent is allowed to manage your finances while you are still alive, while a successor gains control of your assets only after your death. Illnesses can happen to anyone at anytime, so it is important to have a medical or a health care power of attorney while it is still early rather than to let your family members become confused about making decisions regarding your medical and health care. Company lawyers are often sent or subordinates who are trusted to make decisions and sign the contract. Another advantage of a power of attorney is its importance in making healthcare decisions. A power of attorney can also be given to people, authorizing them to refuse or allow medical care to the principal if they become incapable of making decisions for themselves.