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My mother in law is dying. Her only child, my husband, does not have the Health Care Proxy nor Power of Attorney. (She set it up when he was 15, and she never changed it.)

Her HCP/POA does not like me. She is prohibiting me from visiting her in Hospice and from attending the (eventual) funeral. (She has had her feeding tube removed and is on "comfort measures only.")

I just want to be able to say, "Good Bye." My husband has tried to reason with her and has gotten no where. Is there anything I can do? If I show up, can she prevent me from visiting? Legally ...

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POA and/or Health Care Surrogacy does NOT give the holder the power to prevent visitation. You and your husband need simply visit with the administrator of the facility. I am sure he/she will help arrange visitation for you.
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I have a brother that is my mothers health care proxy and he will not allow me or anyone in the family to see her . She is 91 years old and very ill. Does he have legal right to prevent us from seeing her? She is in a nursing home.
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For spite, my mother has ordered the Nursing Home where my father is not to let me take him out for the day. She has POA however this is not specified in the document. My other siblings can take him out. My father does have some dementia but is aware of this situation. Does my mother have this legal right?
Thank You
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This is a clear Violation of the most basic of Human Rights. The right to Visit
I have heard story after story where a Power of Attorney makes a short phone call to the nursing home and say’s “I don’t want so&so (in most cases it’s a blood relative of the patient) to have any more visits or communication with the patient”
With no questions asked the nursing home will then follow the instructions. I’ve even heard of a case where the power of attorney instructed staff to remove the patents personal phone from their room with further instructions not to allow the patient to receive any phone calls through the house phone without first getting the OK from the power of Attorney.

The thing that pisses me off the most is when I read thing like the Power of Attorney don’t (Generally) have this kind of authority. Or some just come out and say, taking away a basic human right visitations can only be done through a court order, period.
Why then does every nursing home comply no questions asked?

Doesn't a power of attorney have to accountable to anyone. Or at least be required to give good cause in front of a judge before being allow to sever family relationships with no more than a quick phone call.
I'm going to start blogging about this.
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I have an uncle who has power of attorney for my grandfather. He had it for my grandmother before she died in December. When she was in hospital dyig , he told nurse and security, if I showed up, have me arrested even though there was no restraining order. Then when my grandmother died, I wanted to attend memorial to come say goodbye. I had plane ticket and was ready to leave for airport and got call that if I showed up, I would be arrested-again- no restraining order- just power went to his head. Now my grandfather is in poor health and I want to see him. Can my uncle since he has power of attorney , prevent me from showing up at my grandfathers home?
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My sister has POA over my mom...I went to see her and and was refused to see my mom,now she claims she has the right to whatever she wants...can she do this.Claims my mom doesn't know who I am well she does she remembers my friend as well...She went as far as calling security to have me removed now does she have this right?I understand that she only has say over my mom's money and nothing else and is there something I can do ?
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That's a really good question. I assumed that, as having POA, that I could prevent someone who has been getting my mother extremely aggitated, from seeing my mother until their conduct changes. But, I was thinking that it would only be my personal wishes that the hospital/nursing home/etc staff would be honoring. I don't know if it could be legally enforced or not, but I think that, if the nursing personal consider the relative/friend is causing too aggitation to the patient,endangering the patient, that the nursing staff could call security or the police and escort them out or prevent them from coming into the patient's room. I'm guessing that it can be legally enforced, but I'm not sure. Good question. In your case, Sarah789, I didn't see any mention that the POA thought you were aggitating, abusing, or causing the patient to be endangered. If it's a personal and selfish wish to prevent you from seeing your relative, I don't think the POA can stop you. If this were brought to the attention of the authorities, I think the POA would have to provide a solid reason for preventing you from seeing your relative.
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On a personal note. I was in the same situation and ended up hiring a Family Attorney. First I gave him a copy of the document my Dad had prepared so he could read through it.
He then wrote a strongly worded letter to the hospital and the POA saying there was nothing within the scope of power giving the POA the power to control visitations and to uphold the request to bar your visitations was illegal.
He demanded an immediate cease and desist or further legal action will be taken notice.
That did the trick. They laid down like sack of potatoes.
It cost me about 600.00 but it was worth every penny.
Most people don’t the POA’s because they just don’t know the scope of their power. It’s not uncommon for them to over step the limits of their power and it’s really is a problem
Read this article about visitation rights, it's really an eye opener.
legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary/Visitation+Rights
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Also download this PDF File its got all the facts about this issue.
canhr/reports/VisitationRightsGuide.pdf
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Unless she has a restraining order on you, I don't believe that she can prohibit you from seeing your mother in law or going to her funeral. Is she planning on keeping your husband out too? I would think the two of you could visit together and would go to the funeral together. What a mess, I hope things work out.
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