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meganm Asked July 2016

Can medical POA be on morphine, etc. and make decisions for a principle?

My sister was named as HCPOA of my now deceased brother. Unknown to us, she was and still is using morphine and other opioids for her pain management. We knew that she had her ups and downs, but when my brother was dying, she went off the deep end, verbally, emotionally, and mentally abusing him and trying to isolate him from his POA's. Conspired to remove property from him before and after his death. On and on. The family was split with total anger on either side. She was making some pretty awful assumptions about family members and clearly made those statements to hospital staff, family and friends. The arguments are still going on, and accusations from her are flying off the rails. She is also HCPOA and POA of our aging mother and now starting to do the same things with her as far and emotional, and mental "abuse" and isolation. I'm not only concerned about her past and present behaviors, I'm concerned about her own well being. I'm only guessing, but think I think she has had a long standing addiction to medications as well as some mental disorder.

Eyerishlass Jul 2016
Being on pain medication doesn't render someone an addict or incompetent if their medication is prescribed by a Dr. and is being taken according to what the Dr. prescribes.

So to answer your question, yes, a healthcare proxy can be on morphine that was prescribed by a Dr. and still be able to make decisions for the principle.

cwillie Jul 2016
There is nothing about using legally prescribed pain medications that would render your sister incompetent to perform her duties. You say "The family was split with total anger on either side", this implies that at least some family members are in favour of what she is doing and that others (obviously including you) are not.
If there are other, legitimate things to complain about we can try to address those, tell us more about the emotional abuse and isolation.

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