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Yeah, some of that stuff just sucks all the way around--immigration laws and all. We certainly need them, but sometimes common sense should win out, ya know?
But yes, you can appoint anyone to be your medical power of attorney (and financial for that matter). Most homosexual partners already do this as it's the only way right now unless and until they can get married. Also, when you go into the hospital for something, they usually ask if you have a living will or medical POA and if you do not and want to appoitn someone at that time, they will give you the papers to do it. The thing is, those usually only apply to *that* hospital and you may not be able to take them to other doctors/hospitals, so it's always best to accomplish this with a lawyer. It isn't usually very expensive to do just POAs, and you can do them online too and as long as you make sure the signing requirements are met for your state (i.e., some require notary, some don't, some require each page to be initialed, some don't, stuff like that), then it's just as good.
Really, it's a good idea to have them done even if you *are* married because you can appoint a "contingent" POA as well. That way, if you and your partner are in an accident together and neither of you can make decisions, the person you want making the decisions is appointed.
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Mom of Six
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