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At what point to you pull the plug on giving ANY medical information on a loved one for which you are POA? I tried, in the name of family unity to have an in-person pow-wow. Everything I said went in one ear and out the other. Family members are wanting to question every medical decision I make. I am simply not being listened to. At this point I see no other recourse but to limit all medical information. I am MPOA and another relative is DPOA. If I cut off access to medical information does the DPOA have any recourse? I don't want to be put in the position of a care bill not being paid. Advice?

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As MPOA you really shouldn't be sharing info. You are a representative for the person who assigned you. You job is to follow their wishes and make informed decisions on their behalf. The person assigned you because they felt you would do the job.

Does the financial POA tell everyone how the person stands financially because they shouldn't. That info s/b kept confidential.

Stop the Pow Wows. You can explain what I said that you researched and found as POA you shouldn't and you are not obigated to give private info out.
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frazzledteacher Sep 2020
I was trying to soothe feelings with my sisters, but that backfired spectacularly.
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As POA it is YOU who gets medical information. Who else is getting it and who is giving it, as this is a violation of the law unless the senior him or herself OKs the sharing of information. Stop sharing information. I believe you told us this is failing kidneys and your parent refusal to do dialysis, to enter into hospice instead?
Why would a "care bill" (sorry, don't know what that is) not be paid?
My advice was to meet with family and explain your parent's wishes. You have done that. So that is now OVER.
Now you will simply update them on the daily progress as your parent moves toward the hopefully peaceful demise chosen.
Again, thanks for honoring the wishes of your parents. No one else's wishes or opinions matter. Continue to give updates to ONE person and have them form a PHONE TREE to communicate with all others. Do let them know that you aren't interested in and have no time for their opinions, that you are busy honoring your parents wishes. Keep on keeping on. Unlikely that they will stop. Unlike that they will be satisfied. So don't even try.
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You’re not under any obligation-moral or legal- to share information unless the person you are medical POA. Unless the person you hold POA for has asked you keep certain people information, you shouldn’t be doing it. And if that’s the case, if you’ve been asked the principle to keep others information, you can politely inform them that it’s creating an unnecessary burden and you will no longer be doing it. If the DPOA pays the bills, all you need to do is explain what a bill is for when asked.
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frazzledteacher Sep 2020
I am seriously considering diverting the bill for prescriptions to me so that they can't snoop.
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I’m sorry you are having difficulties with your sisters. IMO it’s difficult enough to be POA without having unwelcome interference. Since I’ve only been financial And medical POA, I’ve never had to be concerned with a bill not being paid etc. I have had the weight of scrutiny which isn’t pleasant but probably made me a better advocate for my loved ones.
I believe I would read over the medical POA very carefully. I might even call the attorney and ask a few questions. It could be that a meeting with both POAs and the attorney would be beneficial. One can have a legal right and still not reach the objective. These are legal documents but for a loved one. The family being in discord is not helpful to the agent. It’s truly good that they care about their parents care and feed back from someone who cares should be considered but you are still the decision maker and not free to discuss more than the agent would choose. It’s a tough spot to be in. Being a POA is not a fun job. It’s a gift you are giving to the agent as well as to your siblings who don’t have the legal responsibility but still may feel a moral obligation to look out for their parent, the agent. I agree with stopping the meetings as they didn’t work. Regardless of what medical treatment you choose, your parent will one day die. Read the book “Being Mortal, Medicine and What Matters in the End” by Atul Gawande. It helps with the stress of caring for a loved one and may give you peace with your difficult decisions.

I am assuming here that the agent is beyond the ability to revoke either of the POAs and assign one person to handle both? Let us know how this plays out. We learn from one another.
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frazzledteacher Sep 2020
Yes they are beyond being able to revoke.
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As MPOA, you have the final say. They can opine all they want. You do what you think is right.

"I hear what you are suggesting; after consulting with the medical professionals and with mom, I don't believe it's the right course of action".
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I am both mpoa and dpoa. All i care about is making sure mom is cared for. I keep my family in the loop because that's what mom wanted. Mom has dementia and lives with my siblings. Her wishes.
The only interference i get is from an inlaw. She wants to be in control. That's not happening any time soon.
Poa is a difficult sometimes thankless job but i get peace of mind knowing i am doing the right thing for mom. That's all that matters. Good luck to you.
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You will not be responsible for bills. The DPOA person is responsible to pay bills from LO's accounts. It would be best if you and the DPOA person can have an understanding about the direction of care for LO. Usually DPOA person is concerned about preserving finances so they last for the LO's lifespan - so that is the usual reasoning for all the questions. The MPOA person's focus is to maintain a quality of life and health care congruent with LO's stated wishes. The goals of both POA persons should be "what is best for LO." Please consider asking DPOA to have a meeting with you and LO's primary care provider to discuss health care goals for LO. Hopefully, the DPOA will be more willing to work with you when they hear the same information you provide coming from the primary care provider. If there is a continuing problem, please remind DPOA that LO asked you to decide medical care.
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I think your posts show that it is increasingly more difficult for you to stand your ground. I am uncertain why. Is this your OWN uncertainty? Or is this that you feel they are challenging you?
It is, we discussed under other threads, not always good to have two DPOA, one for health and one for financial, but that is the way it is.
I think your problem, quite honestly, is that you are not MAKING BOUNDARIES and sticking to them.
I would not become adversarial, and withdrawing any info IS adversarial. That could force someone on the "other side" to go for guardianship through the courts so that YOU are removed. You cannot allow that to happen because, as you fully discussed before, you are responsible to one person here, YOUR ELDER who told you exactly what" they wanted done, and you are doing it.
Do not allow questions. And TELL THEM YOU WILL NOT. Tell ONE PERSON, as I said before, a daily update. "ie Dad is comfortable. This is progressing as is expected. His blood pressure is lower. There are no treatments other than comfort. He is comfortable". THE END and FULL STOP. No discussion. In fact tell them "I am not discussing details. Dad is now dying. The expected outcome is death and that is what we are moving toward. Please pass on the update." This may go on and on and on and on because in all truth, the doctors will tell you "No dialysis and he will die" but the truth often is that the body adapts and he may not die quickly at all.
You must set limits. If you are unable to set limits and stick to them (and ONE argument or discussion ruins everything) or this stew is going to roil on the burner forever until everything is gone.
Set strick limits. Tell them what you are doing.
1. I will speak with one person daily. Form a phone tree now.
2. The expected outcome is death. That is what is to be expected. Without dialysis Dad will die. Either more or less quickly. I cannot know that. Nor does the doctor. I will not say this twice.
3. I will NOT brook any interference in the task I have taken on. I will not argue. I will not discuss.
GOODBYE. Take a walk. Take good care of yourself. This is very hard for all of us.

If you feel you cannot handle this, if you want to set this dreadful group onto the doctors, and prolong your Dad's life against his wishes, and submit him to the torture that all that is, then step back and let others assume this duty of end of life. It IS end of life care, whether there is dialysis or not, in all truth. But it appears you are being tortured not by the demise of someone you love, but by your own family.
GET HELP either for yourself, or the whole family. Ask the social services you are working with at hospice to make a recommend for you.
Sorry this continues to go so badly, but until you put your foot down this will not change.
IF YOU ARE NOT BEING LISTENED TO THEN STOP TALKING.
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sister46 Sep 2020
Great analogy, great response.
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Can you speak with your attorney to find out what your options are, from a legal perspective. Or some community organizations offer free legal advice. However, it's more than just a legal issue. You may also want to talk to a social worker or counselor to get advice on how to handle the family issues. My good friend got into a situation like this and ended up not talking to her sister until the day she died. It was very sad. If your mother has a living will with clear guidance, hopefully that should be guiding you on what she wishes for her medical care.
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Many medical care decisions have financial implications. Some may have implications for care imputs from family members. It would not be sensible to make medical care decisions without consulting to financial POA to see if they are affordable. Of course the very best gold star facility would be great, but is it affordable? Or the best medical decisions might be home care in shifts from all family members – but they might not be willing or able to do it.

It is pain in the neck if the family is trying to butt in inappropriately, but not reasonable to cut them out completely. Could you get together with the financial POA to work out a joint strategy? Yes, it has been left up to you two, but most caring family members would be understandably annoyed if they were simply told to mind their own business.
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