If my dad is still competent and of sound mind, does he have the final say on a DNR or nursing home?

A DNR and Healthcare Proxy are not the same as POA

If he is deemed to be competent p, then he can revoke the POA at any time.
The POA designates the limits of the authority of the POA....Dad can revoke all or part of it.

She just has a general Power of Attorney over my parents. My mother is at end of life but my sister does not want the DNR. My father does. We are planning on revoking the Power of Attorney. Would we need an attorney or can we print and sign the form and have it notarized? Does it have to be notarized?

It is your mother who would have to revoke her POA. Is she competent to do that?

But the POA does not have authority over medical decisions.

Are you saying your sister would try to overrule a DNR signed previously by your Mom?

Anyway, as Jeanne says, the POA does NOT cover health care issues...that is a proxy.

Wow..I would have a talk with Dad. Sister is trying to step way over the line.

Let's just ask...who has the health care proxy?
If the answer is no one...then it falls to what she previously signed.
In general the hospital will follow the wishes of the husband/wife. But, not always. Safer to have one.

Jeanne is right. Only your mother can assign the POAs for her finances and her healthcare (healthcare proxy). Whoever has the healthcare proxy has the ability to choose what is in the best interest of the patient when there is no hope of recovery. However, hospitals will often not execute a DNR is there is dissent in the family. It places them in a vulnerable position. It would be best if the family came to a meeting of the minds. If that is not possible, then whoever has the POA for healthcare (healthcare proxy) will have the most power in the decision. If your mother is incapacitated, the POAs cannot be changed now.

My mother is not competent to sign. She is end of life bedridden and barely in an awake state. Yes, my sister claims that she gets to make the decision whether there is a DNR or not. My Dad does not want this because her quality of life is zero. My evil sister does want them to use any means possible to save her if she codes. If my mother is ever released rom the hospital my sister wants to take her to her home and take care of her which she is CRAZY and not capable of doing so. She can barely take care of herself. My dad would prefer her to go in a nursing home (a GOOD one) where she will be taken care of as he is not able to be a fulltime caregiver. If they release her from the hospital in the stage she is now, which I doubt, it would not be good for her to be at home even with a caregiver and my dad have to watch her suffer (feeding tube, etc) and not even be awake or when she is, barely. She can't talk, she can't move. Strokes, seizures and dementia have taken everything away from her. Why anyone would want someone to suffer is beyond me. By the way, the doctors agree with us. But, you have answered my questions about the difference in a POA and a healthcare proxy. Thank you so much!!!

We are revoking the POA that he signed so that she has no say so over him. We will make sure that he has a Healthcare proxy. She won't let me see the POA that she has so I don't know what it says and my dad can't find his copy. She did this years ago (she's much older than me and I would have been a kid when it was signed so that's why I am not on it also. I will be on the new one for my dad after he revokes the current one. The doctor has in the records that she is a DNR and it's in her medical charts but again, she is saying she never told him that so I'm sure she will wave the DNR around at the hospital. If my dad is there if it happens I would think that the hospital would revert to what he says because he is still competent. Depends on the wording (again, I haven't seen it) to whether it says on the POA if he still has the last say over his and mother's care if he is still competent and it only reverts to her if he is not able to make a decision about my mother. I'm hoping it does.

I have a Healthcare POA and mom's doctors have accepted it.

The hospital was so nice. Since I gave them a copy of my healthcare POA, they put it in all her records to resuscitate mom. My sister can't step in in an emergency before I get to the hospital and make the decision to DNR.

Hello, A GPOA that DOES NOT have a DURABLE CLAUSE is NO LONGER VALID once the client/ patient BECOMRES INCOMPETENT.
THAT is when a HCProxy is activated or comes into EFFECT.
IF mom still competent able to write send letter fire daught not want do wishes,poa do no hatd bound to carryout wishes .fire 3 letters certified

Doctors can advise a consult panel and discontinue if prognosis is considered non consious mind. Even if there is proxy medical and psychiatric surrogte proxy. Even if proxy does not want patient to be removed from ventilator feeding machine.
I suggest husband consult attending physicians.
Remember physiian,.health care proxy oath and POA "attorney in fact" must follow the principals' wishes.Unless a Durable clause with Advance Directive for Healthcare Surrogate Declaration In Accord with Law of said State attatched to General Pof attiorney in fact.
I suggest just as doctors what the prognosis and best measures for comfort would be.
If doctor belives would prolong suffering then call in group hug and let dr give reccomendation.
Husband can contact Hospice.

hmmm... i had P.O.A. (old wording from long ago) for both my folks, but only after my parents had it for each other. seems weird to me your sister would trump your father. even if she has the authority for health care decisions it seems to me your parents would have listed her next in line after themselves... for each other, if that makes sense.

if sis cannot show it to you, i suppose you could get an attorney to force the issue. a person can't just claim these things... you must prove it. sorry you are up against this. either she is in serious denial or is being controlling. either way, you and your dad must advocate for the best interest of you mom. best of luck to you and your family. (((hugs)))