What Is a Power of Attorney, and Why Is Having One So Important?

04/30/24 • 29 min

Talking about death or life-threatening illnesses or injuries is not easy. However, planning for these events makes sure you get the health care you want and offers you and your loved ones peace of mind, helping eliminate difficult decisions in the midst of extreme emotions, confusion and pain. Dr. K and special guest Ramon Mercado discuss important end-of-life planning tools, including advance directives and a health care power of attorney.
Additional resources for this episode:
National Institute on Aging: https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/advance-care-planning/advance-care-planning-advance-directives-health-care
Mayo Clinic: https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/consumer-health/in-depth/living-wills/art-20046303
Johns Hopkins: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/patient-care/patients-visitors/advance-directives
If you have a question for Dr. K, email [email protected]. Your question will remain anonymous.

Previous Episode

How Dangerous Is It to Have Sex with Someone Who Has HIV?

The human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, is still a public health problem affecting millions of people in the U.S. and around the world, and yet it is an issue we do not talk about - or when we do, it carries stigma and misinformation. Many people, especially young people who did not live during the 1980s epidemic, still do not understand where HIV came from or how it is transmitted. Dr. K gives us the facts about the history, prevention and treatment of HIV.
Additional resources for this episode:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/basics/index.html
Mayo Clinic: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hiv-aids/symptoms-causes/syc-20373524
Cleveland Clinic: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/4251-hiv-aids
Johns Hopkins: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/hiv-and-aids
If you have a question for Dr. K, email [email protected]. Your question will remain anonymous.

Next Episode

Being an Empowered Patient - What Questions Should I Ask My Provider?

This episode of Q&A with Dr. K launches our series about what it means to be an empowered patient, starting with having the confidence to ask questions and knowing which questions to ask when talking with your health care provider. Dr. K shares his experience with patients who ask questions, the three main questions we should always ask our doctors and more!
Additional resource for this episode:
Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI): https://www.ihi.org/resources/tools/ask-me-3-good-questions-your-good-health
If you have a question for Dr. K, email [email protected]. Your question will remain anonymous.

Q&A with Dr. K - What Is a Power of Attorney, and Why Is Having One So Important?

Transcript

Beth Brown00:00:09.960

Welcome to Q&A with Dr. K, a podcast by Mountain Pacific Quality Health, where we sit down with Dr. Doug Kuntzweiler and get your health questions answered. Because on Q&A with Dr. K, the doctor is always in.

Beth Brown00:00:34.659

Hello, everyone, this is Beth Brown, your host and I'm here, as always, with our very good friend Dr. Doug

Dr. Doug Kuntzweiler00:00:37.000

Thank