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Connecticut Healthcare Power of Attorney

The Connecticut Healthcare Power of Attorney allows you to grant someone you trust with the authority to make healthcare decisions on your behalf if you are unconscious, deemed mentally incompetent, or otherwise unable to make such healthcare decisions for yourself. If you're preparing for major surgery, have been diagnosed with a terminal illness, or are currently healthy and just want to be ready in case something happens, let Rocket Lawyer help you create a customized Healthcare Power of Attorney that meets your needs and is legal in Connecticut.

A Connecticut Healthcare Power of Attorney, also called Appointment of Health Care Representative, must be signed by two witnesses. There is an additional, optional document, a Witness Affidavit, that is a sworn statement by both witnesses that, at the time of the signing of the document, you appeared to be:

• 18 years old or older
• Of sound mind
• Able to understand the nature and consequences of the document being signed
• Under no improper influence

This Affidavit must be notarized. The Affidavit provides additional protection if your Healthcare Power of Attorney is ever legally challenged.

A Healthcare Power of Attorney, as the name implies, grants your Healthcare Representative the authority to make healthcare-related decisions for you should your attending physician determine that you are unable to understand and appreciate the nature and consequences of healthcare decisions and are unable to reach and communicate an informed decision. Your Healthcare Representative will have the authority to:

• Accept or refuse any treatment, service or procedure used to diagnose or treat your physical or mental condition, except as provided by law.
• Make the decision to provide, withhold or withdraw life support systems.

A principal can "override" a power of attorney whenever they want by revoking it in writing. A Revocation of Healthcare Power of Attorney may need to be signed by two witnesses, and this is provided in the Rocket Lawyer Revocation of Healthcare Power of Attorney document.

If a family member, however, believes that the Agent or Healthcare Representative should be removed, then they may challenge the appointment in court. Some reasons for challenging an appointment include:

• Coercion – The Principal was coerced into signing the Power of Attorney.
• Mental capacity – The Principal lacked the mental capacity to sign the Healthcare Power of Attorney.
• Lack of formalities – The Healthcare Power of Attorney was not prepared in accordance with Connecticut laws.
• Abuse of power – The Healthcare Representative is abusing his or her powers.