Who would speak for you if you couldn’t speak for yourself?
In Colorado, no one can automatically make medical decisions for you – not spouses, adult children, other family members, nor doctors. Therefore, it is very important to think about your values and name a person who would speak for you based on your wishes. This gives you control over your medical choices, even when you are not able to speak for yourself.
Here is a short video from our friends at The Conversation Project on how to choose a decision maker: Watch Now
RECOMMENDED* A Medical Durable Power of Attorney form is the legal Colorado form to choose a medical decision maker to speak on your behalf if you were unable to make decisions for yourself because of illness or injury. This can be updated at any time.
This form does NOT require a witness signature or notary. It just needs your signature to make it legal.
Colorado Medical Durable Power of Attorney Form (download here)
Medical Durable Power of Attorney – Spanish Version (download here)
ALTERNATIVE* The Easy to Read Colorado Advance Health Care Directive allows you to select a medical decision maker AND allows you to outline how you would like to be cared for at the end-of-life.
Because this is a living will, it needs to be witnessed by two people.
Easy to Read Colorado Advance Health Care Directive (download here)
UPDATE* On August 2nd, 2019 Colorado’s new Psychiatric Advance Directive process went into effect: Click Here to Learn More.
Psychiatric Advance Directive Form (download here)
One of the most important advance directives to complete is a medical durable power of attorney. That’s putting down who you want your health care advocate to be.
– Aurora social worker
