A Rhode Island medical power of attorney lets you choose a trusted person to make health care decisions on your behalf. If you cannot make or communicate medical decisions for yourself, your selected person (your agent) will do so for you. In Rhode Island, this form is also called a durable power of attorney for health care form.
Laws
- Statute: Chapter 23-4.10 of Title 23: Health and Safety.
- Signing Requirements: Two (2) witnesses or a notary public (§ 23-4.10-2).
- A witness can’t be an agent, a health care provider, or an employee of a health care provider.
- Revocation: A person can revoke their medical POA at any time and in any condition, as long as they can communicate their intention to do so. The revocation only becomes effective for the healthcare provider when they learn about it. (§ 23-4.10-3)
- The healthcare provider must document the revocation in the principal’s medical record.
- Emergency personnel can assume that a durable POA for health care has been revoked if reliable documentation is not available.
Sample
