I would NEVER sign a healthcare proxy or power of attorney.
The father of my daughter’s boy friend signed all that stuff 6 years ago, then 3 years ago got divorced. When he was hospitalized and in a coma, the hospital asked the ex-wife (she was the designated one) if they could pull the plug. She said yes, and her 2 boys were furious and haven’t spoken to her since.
Sadly, that is a reminder for all to HAVE and KEEP wills & POAs CURRENT.
So a couple of things about power of attorney that need clarification
1. I have seen personally once in a while something like what you are suggesting. Am estranged person for whatever reason has a POA. If that is the case, and upon belief that someone is acting in bad faith, I am legally allowed to seek guardian for the patient who will act in the best interests of the patient. I usually tell the families that while the POA is the decision point and legally allowed to make decisions that when I am speaking to the POA it is because the patient is incapacitated and I am seeking to hear what the patient wanted prior to incapacitation.
2. A POA does not get to choose treatments specifically. They can consent to treatment or not. To life sustaining maneuvers or not. To procedures or not. For example if a patient POA states they want a specific treatment that is not safe or indicated, that treatment will not be provided. Just because you have a POA does not mean someone will choose treatments specifically. While I am sure that is not what the poster is trying to say it may come across that way to some.
3. Hospice is end of life issues within six months and comfort measures only. I view oxygen and fluids as a comfort measure so I and many others will generally sign off on those (hospice transitions are often done from the icu level of care — just heading of the invariable accusation that I wouldn’t know about that as an intensivist) but active treatments are stopped often including antibiotics. The goal of hospice is comfort not treatment.
Anyway it’s a good post becuase absolutely you should have someone to adopts for you in the event you are incapacitated but that means directing what you would want not substituting their judgment for you.
Be well