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| Madeline Calthorpe |
18
is far more than just a number. It is a
symbol of transition. Finally, after
years of waiting, you are no longer a child.
Nights of rushing home to make 12 am curfew are over and freedom has
never tasted so sweet. In a few months,
it will be time to head off to college, allowing you to truly test out this new
thing called adulthood. What you may not
realize, however, is that 18 is also the year when your parents can no longer
make health care decisions on your behalf.
So,
what exactly does this mean? Should you
be worried? Well, let’s say you and your
friends have decided to spend your Spring Break in the mountains. A week of skiing, relaxing by the fire, and
thinking about anything other than school—what could be better? Unfortunately, things don’t go quite as
planned and you end up in the hospital after the first hour on the slopes. Your friends call your parents in a frenzy,
but when your parents call the hospital they are unable to get any information. Despite the fact that they’re your parents,
you’re an adult and, in effect, sharing your information would be a privacy
concern. I know what you’re thinking,
what’s the big deal? It’s probably just
a broken leg. I’ll call my parents when
I get out of the hospital. But what if
it wasn’t just a broken leg? What if you
were unconscious? Wouldn’t you want your
parents by your side supporting you and helping to make important medical
decisions?
Luckily,
there is a solution: a medical power of attorney. Contrary to belief, this document is not only
for aging parents, but is important for young adults too. By signing a medical power of attorney, you
are giving your parents, or another adult of your choice, the ability to act in
your place. Had you been unconscious
after that accident, they could have told the doctors what steps to take.
Here
at The Peninsula Center, we offer a College Power Pack, which includes a
Durable Power of Attorney, Medical Power of Attorney, and HIPPA form. Five years ago, when I said goodbye to my
parents as they dropped me off for my freshman year, I would never have thought
to sign these documents. Now, I would
sign them in a heartbeat.
You
may be an adult, but that doesn’t make you invincible. The world is full of unexpecteds, but you
don’t have to be alone when they pop up.
On your eighteenth birthday, rather than rushing out and buying a
lottery ticket, call and set up an appointment to sign a medical power of
attorney. Leaving for college is
stressful enough; give yourself peace of mind by knowing that you are in good
hands.
