The Power of Attorney for Health Care (POA-HC): Your voice - your future.
What is the Illinois Power of Attorney for Health Care?
The Illinois Health Care Power of Attorney is a legally recognized advance directive which allows you to designate someone who can make medical decisions for you in the event you are incapacitated or unable to do so (Advance Directives, n.d.)
Why Should I Appoint Power of Attorney for Health Care?
1. If you fail to select a Health Care Power of Attorney, one will be selected for you in the event you become incapacitated (Advance Directives, n.d.).
2. By choosing your own designated healthcare decision maker, you are potentially preventing undue stress on another person who may feel unprepared to act in this capacity.
3. By discussing your specific healthcare wishes in advance with the designated healthcare decision maker you choose, you may have greater peace of mind knowing that your proactive decisions will be known and followed as you wish.
4. Completing this advance directive may spare a family member or loved one possible anguish, uncertainty or fearfulness if they themselves feel uncomfortable making decisions that relate to life-prolonging measures.
Health Care Power of Attorney Requirements
It is Vital to Understand the Illinois Health Care Power of Attorney Document Follows Specific Guidelines
Specific Guidelines, Limitations and Terminology for this Advance Directive
1. In the Illinois Power of Attorney for Health Care Document you are referred to as the "Principal."
2. The person that you designate to make healthcare decisions on your behalf is also known as the "Agent."
3. A person providing healthcare to you such as a doctor, nurse or healthcare provider is not allowed to act as your Power of Attorney for Health Care.
4. The Power of Attorney for Healthcare typically begins once a physician determines that you lack decisional capacity to make medical decisions for yourself.
5. The Power of Attorney for Healthcare typically ends upon your death unless the "Agent" (You) document extension of this role beyond the date of your death.
6. Under Illinois law, the "Principal" (You) can request that the POA-HC directive is immediately active once you sign the directive. You may otherwise choose to have the POA-HC directive only become active once your physician deems you to be unable to make medical decisions for yourself.
7. You are allowed to designate an alternate (secondary) Power of Attorney for Healthcare in the event the first agent refuses to assume the role or is unable to be reached.
8. In Illinois, an electronic copy of the Illinois Power of Attorney for Health Care can be honored if the original paper document is not available.
9. Regardless of your physical or mental health condition, you may cancel your Power of Attorney for Healthcare at any time by either telling someone, or by cancelling the directive in writing.
10. The Illinois Power of Attorney Document provides important considerations that help define what is important to you as the "Principal." These topics span from what you feel is most important in your life, to your wishes regarding hospitalization and/or life prolonging measures.
11. The Illinois Power of Attorney Document informs the "Agent" of what health care decisions they are legally allowed to make on your behalf.
12. Only one person is required to act as a witness for this advance directive, however, they must meet the following criteria listed below in the next section.
(Advanced Directives, 2026).
What Else Should I Know About a Power of Attorney for Health Care?
Who can act as your Power of Attorney for Healthcare
A: 18 Years of age or Older
- Only someone who is 18 years of age or older can be a possible POA-HC candidate (Advanced Directives, 2026).
B: Family/Friend
- Your spouse, family members or even close friends are allowed to act as your Power of Attorney for Health Care (Advanced Directives, 2026).
C: Witness
- To be legally valid in Illinois, the POA-HC must be signed by you (The Principal) and an eligible witness who is 18 years of age or older. For detailed legislative information refer to the Illinois Living Will Act, 1988 under the citation link for the following (Advance Directives, 2026).
D: Exclusions
- Under Illinois law the following are not allowed to act as a witness for your Power of Attorney for Health Care: Physician, Physician Assistant, Advance Practice Nurse, Psychologist, Dentist, Healthcare Entity, or anyone who owns/operates a healthcare facility (Advanced Directives, 2026).
At AdvanceDirectivesHelp.org, we believe everyone deserves to have their healthcare wishes honored.
Discover what Advance Directives are and why it's crucial for adults in Illinois to make their medical preferences known.
This website will hopefully help to educate you and provide a better understanding of each Illinois advance directive introduced.