How does a patient advocate invoke his or her powers?

A patient advocate that has been appointed and has accepted the appointment may only exercise her powers under the DPA when the patient is not able to participate in medical treatment decisions. This determination is made by the patient’s attending physician or a physician designated by the patient in the DPA, such as a family doctor, after an examination of the patient.

Michigan law also provides for an expedited court procedure for determining a patient’s ability to participate in medical decisions should a dispute arise.

Once the powers of the patient advocate are invoke, they remain in effect for as long as the patient is not able to participate in his medical decisions.