Good day,
My sister had a hand written document indicating she appointed me however the doctors never bothered to ask for it. my familly was also aware who my sister wanted as PoA and supported me in front of the medical staff.
She realized that the situation could have gotten out of hand should doctors have requested a legal document. The whole familly now have a legal document naming a P o A
I was quite upset that 'some' doctors or nurses knowingly go against the patient's will. Since this incident I questionned friends and relatives working in the health care system .... non respect of the 'refusal of blood transfusion' seams more frequent than we may imagine.
Here in Quebec (a general practice ) is that social workers are systematically appointed to patients who 'seam" unattended by familly. These people are quite persuasive and overpowering and often times declare the person 'unfit' to take decisions. Even though my sister was very lucid.
A social worker kept visiting and insist that hb was too low and tried to convince my sister she would die if she did not accept blood (familly was present every day). Curiously the social worker tried to get her to sign a document to transfer her and her 'finances' to a long term facilty in SteHyacinthe stating she would be permanently handicaped (not walk again) if whe survived..
Sis walks has a full time job and operates a small farm on her own and didn't have or need a transfusion.
Thanks
M. L