Consent to or refuse treatment
The agent can consent to or refuse any type of medical treatment on your behalf — including surgery, medication, life-sustaining measures, and hospice care — based on your documented wishes or best interests.
Hospital Bedside Notary
Healthcare Power of Attorney Notary — Agent Only, at the Bedside
When the patient only needs to name a healthcare agent — not record specific treatment wishes — we notarize Part 1 of the California AHCD on its own at hospital bedsides across LA and Ventura County. This page covers the part most families overlook: how much authority you actually give the agent (Total, Some, or No Flexibility) and why that choice matters more than the name on the form.
- Part 1 only — names the agent, no treatment wishes
- Total / Some / No Flexibility agent-authority choice
- On-site form generation if no document is ready
This page is specifically for agent-only signings — Part 1 of the California AHCD executed without Part 2. If the patient wants both the agent designation AND specific treatment wishes in one document see our full AHCD page. If they only want to record treatment wishes (and skip the agent), see our Living Will page.
What this page covers
Healthcare Power of Attorney notarization, end to end.
A Healthcare Power of Attorney (also called a Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care) names a trusted person — your healthcare agent — to make medical decisions on your behalf if you cannot speak for yourself. This is Part 1 of California's AHCD. Unlike a General Power of Attorney, it covers only healthcare decisions: consenting to or refusing treatment, selecting providers, accessing medical records, and making placement decisions. The piece most families miss is the agent-authority scale — the form asks you to choose whether your agent must follow your wishes strictly, can deviate when they believe it's in your best interest, or has total discretion. That choice has more practical impact than the name on the form. We notarize Healthcare POAs at bedsides throughout Los Angeles and Ventura County.
What the document authorizes
What powers does a California healthcare agent have?
Select and discharge providers
The agent can hire or discharge physicians, nurses, therapists, and other healthcare providers, and can change the hospital or care facility where you receive treatment.
Access medical records
The agent has the right to access all your medical records to make informed decisions — overriding HIPAA restrictions for the purposes of healthcare decision-making.
Make placement decisions
The agent can decide where you live for care purposes — whether that is a hospital, rehabilitation center, skilled nursing facility, or home with support services.
The choice most families miss
How much flexibility does your agent get?
The standard California AHCD form asks the principal to pick how strictly the healthcare agent must follow their wishes. This is the section families most often skip — and it matters more than the name on the form, because it tells the agent what to do when reality doesn't match the wishes on paper.
Total flexibility
The agent can override your written wishes if they believe it's in your best interest. Choose this when you trust the agent's judgment more than your own ability to predict every future scenario.
Some flexibility
The agent must generally follow your wishes but can deviate when a specific situation isn't clearly addressed — or when following the wishes would lead to an outcome you clearly didn't intend.
No flexibility
The agent must follow your written wishes exactly as recorded. Choose this when you have strong views — for example, about life support — and want the document, not the agent's judgment, to control.
Why it matters
If you only execute Part 1 (this page's scenario), there are no written wishes for the agent to follow — so the flexibility choice effectively defines how the agent makes every decision. Talk through this section with whoever you're naming. We do not advise on what to choose.
How it works
Five steps to a notarized Healthcare Power of Attorney.
Confirm the document and location
Call or text us with the hospital name, patient room, and whether you have a Healthcare POA or full AHCD ready. If you have the form, text a photo so we can confirm what notarial act is needed before traveling.
Identity verification and capacity check
We confirm the patient's identity with a current government-issued photo ID (or two credible identifying witnesses), then conduct a brief capacity assessment to ensure the patient understands the document and is acting voluntarily.
Document review
We verify all blanks are filled, the healthcare agent (and alternate) are named, and the notarial certificate is correct. Attorney-prepared documents are followed exactly — we do not advise on content.
Bedside signing and notarization
The patient signs in our presence. We complete the California notarial certificate, apply our seal and signature, and enter the act in our official notary journal as required by California law.
Copies and distribution guidance
We advise on copies to retain — with the patient, the healthcare agent, the attending physician, and the hospital's patient records. We can scan and email a copy on-site.
Preparation checklist
What we bring and what to have ready.
What we bring
- Official California notary seal and commission credentials
- Notary journal for required record-keeping
- Laptop, printer, and internet for on-site form generation if needed
- Knowledge of CA Healthcare POA and AHCD requirements
- Capacity assessment protocol for hospital patients
What you provide
- Completed California AHCD Part 1 or full AHCD — agent named, all blanks filled (or request on-site creation)
- Current, unexpired government-issued photo ID for the patient
- Hospital name, patient room or unit, and any access contact
- Do NOT sign before the notary arrives — the patient must sign in front of us
- Patient must be alert and able to communicate — cannot notarize sedated or unconscious patients
Healthcare POA FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Healthcare Power of Attorney notarization.
What is a Healthcare Power of Attorney in California?
A Healthcare Power of Attorney designates one person — your healthcare agent — to make medical decisions on your behalf when you cannot. In California, it is Part 1 of the Advance Healthcare Directive. The agent can consent to or refuse treatment, select providers, access your medical records, and make care placement decisions.
Is the Healthcare POA the same as the Advance Healthcare Directive?
Not quite. The Advance Healthcare Directive is the complete California form. Part 1 is the Power of Attorney for Healthcare (your agent designation) and Part 2 is your Instructions for Health Care (treatment wishes). You can execute Part 1 alone, Part 2 alone, or both. Most people execute the full AHCD to address both in one notarized document.
Does a Healthcare Power of Attorney need to be notarized?
California allows execution by notarization or by two qualifying witnesses. In hospital settings, notarization is strongly preferred because hospital employees are disqualified as witnesses, and a notarized document is recognized more broadly by facilities and across state lines.
What powers does the healthcare agent have?
Under California Probate Code §4683, the agent can consent to, refuse, or withdraw any medical care; hire or discharge providers; access medical records; and make care placement decisions. The patient can limit these powers in writing. Certain powers — like authorizing non-consensual psychiatric treatment or sterilization — require explicit written authorization.
What is the difference between a Healthcare POA and a Financial POA?
A Healthcare POA covers only medical decisions. A Financial or General Durable POA covers financial and property matters — paying bills, managing accounts, selling property. They are separate documents. Many hospitalized patients need both — one for medical decisions and one to manage finances while incapacitated.
Can I name someone out of state as my healthcare agent?
Yes. Your agent does not need to be in California. For practical reasons, naming someone who can be reached quickly and respond to urgent decisions is important. Many patients also name a local alternate agent in case the primary agent is unavailable.
What is the Total / Some / No Flexibility choice on the form?
The standard California AHCD form asks how strictly your agent must follow your written wishes. Total Flexibility lets the agent override your wishes when they believe it's in your best interest. Some Flexibility means generally follow your wishes but adapt to situations you didn't anticipate. No Flexibility means follow your written wishes exactly. If you're only executing Part 1 (no specific wishes), this choice defines how your agent makes every decision. Talk it through with the person you're naming — we do not advise on what to choose.
What if no form is ready when you arrive?
Please have the completed statutory Part 1 form ready before we arrive. The California AHCD statutory form (which contains the Part 1 agent-designation section) is available for free download from the California Medical Association, the California Attorney General's office, and the Coalition for Compassionate Care of California. Many hospital patient-relations or social work departments also keep blank copies on hand. We notarize the acknowledgment; we do not draft, fill in, or advise on agent selection or authority choices.
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