By Susan M. Graham, Certified Elder Law Attorney, Senior Edge Legal
What a shame.
The Idaho Secretary of State has a “Health Care Directive Registry” website where people can sign up and file their Living Wills and Health Care Directives (powers of attorney), to make them available to emergency responders and health care providers.
The Secretary of State’s office continues to accept the documents, but just stack them up. They have given up and no longer enter them into their computer system. The sham registry is still available on their website. [1]
How disappointing to have a government agency that pretends to offer a service and safety net that does not exist.
What can you do to make certain your health care wishes are followed? Provide a copy of your Living Will and Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care to your doctor, and to the individuals you have designated as your agents to communicate on your behalf when you cannot. Carry a card in your wallet that identifies your Health Care agents and their phone numbers. This will help emergency responders know who to contact if you have a health crisis away from home.
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[1] Idaho Press Tribune, “Idaho House kills bill creating new health care directive registry” by Betsy Z. Russell, February 27, 2020
