Anonymous wrote:After consulting my DS' college, we googled and found a HIPAA form from their state. It did not need to be notarized. DS had no objections. We have also done one for the state where we live since an emergency is just as likely to happen here.
No advice on POA.
+1 on getting a HIPAA form. Also be sure your DD remembers that when she is seeing any doctor she must note on their office's own inevitable HIPAA forms that you/spouse are allowed to receive medical information. Just in case they get weird about a generic form.
Also, OP:
Get a "durable power of attorney" document. There may be generic ones online or you can have an attorney's office do be; we used a form that does trusts and estates and never even had to go to their office--they mailed the forms and we just had to have DD's signature notarized. The POA means that if she's incapacitated you are able to handle banking affairs etc. for her. Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it. The attorney who advised is said the state didn't matter but do check that.
Also get an "advance medical directive." Again, use an attorney, or find a generic document online. This required two witnesses to sign it but (in our case at least) did not need to be notarized. This document is not the same as the HIPAA form. The medical directive should name you/other parent as the person empowered to make medical decisions on her behalf if she is unable to make them herself. Do not assume that as the parents and next of kin, doctors would let you make decisions -- yes, they probably would, but don't assume it. The directive gives you peace of mind that no one can tell you that a doctor's orders trump what you would know your DD would want.