Oregon Power of Attorney

This is a statutory form which must be used in Oregon to appoint an agent and alternate agent to make health care decisions for you.  It must also be used to make decisions about life prolonging procedures if you become close to death, permanently unconscious or suffer an advanced progressive illness. 

YOU DO NOT HAVE TO APPOINT A HEALTH CARE AGENT AND MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT LIFE PROLONGING PROCEDURES.  YOU MUST USE THIS FORM, HOWEVER, TO DO EITHER OR BOTH.

Most of the instructions you give in this form are made after you print out your document.  You will have the option to initial the treatments you want if your condition requires life support or tube feeding.  You can also add any other instructions you want.

While filling out this form, you may designate an agent and alternate agent to make health care decisions for you. You may not appoint your doctor, an employee of your doctor, or an owner, operator or employee of your health care facility, unless that person is related to you by blood, marriage or adoption or that person was appointed before your admission into the health care facility.

Your agent must follow your desires as stated in this document or otherwise made known.  If your desires are unknown, your agent must try to act in your best interest.  Your agent can resign at any time. A space is provided at the end of your document to be signed by your agent and alternate agent signifying acceptance. 

After you print out your document you will be given the option to limit the duration of this advance directive.  If you do not, it will not expire.  If you set an expiration date, and you become unable to direct your health care before that date, this advance directive will not expire until you are able to make those decisions again.

You have the right to revoke the authority granted to your agent by informing him or her or your health care provider orally or in writing. 

Notwithstanding the above, this advance directive reserves you the right to make health care decisions for yourself as long as you are able to give informed consent with respect to a particular decision.  In addition, no treatment may be give to you over your objection.   

If there is anything in this document that you do not understand, ask a lawyer to explain it to you.

This power of attorney consists of approximately seven pages.

This power of attorney may be a general or limited power of attorney. For example, you may empower your agent to do any act which you could do yourself (general power of attorney) or limit your agent's authority to a specific transaction (limited power of attorney). Options in this form include appointing an agent to dispose of your property, collect your debts, endorse your checks, execute government vouchers, deposit money or other property, borrow money, acquire property, recover possession of property, institute or defend lawsuits, prepare and file tax returns, transfer title to automobiles and perform any act which you may do yourself.  After you print out your document, a space is provided for your initials beside each power you want to grant your agent. If this is to be a general power of attorney, you may initial beside the option granting all powers to your agent. If you are granting a general power of attorney over your finances your agent must act in your best interest and failure to do so may result in criminal charges or civil liability.

If this is to be a limited power of attorney then you must specify this limitation while filling out the information form.  For example, if you only want your agent to sell your automobile you should so specify and identify the automobile your agent is authorized to sell.  If your agent is only authorized to sell real estate, you should specify and include the legal description of the property.  If your agent is only authorized to sell for a specific price you must indicate this while filling out the information form. You must list in this power of attorney the acts you want your agent to perform.