From: John W Burgeson (jwburgeson@juno.com)
Date: Sat Jul 19 2003 - 11:37:04 EDT
Debbie wrote, in part: "I personally have believed for years that there
should be some sort of 'designated other' allowed for all legal reasons.
Currently, if one is incapacitated without a specific power of attorney,
the next of kin makes the decisions - no matter how ill-suited that is.
People live together, share everything - but can't share insurance. (This
isn't necessarily sexual - sister, brothers, parent and child, buddies).
I think that there should be a broad spectrum 'power of attorney' that
any two people can mutually bestow on each other that gives the other
many of the legal benefits of spouse - and which would have to be
dissolved legally. An unmarried son could keep his mother on his
insurance if he wanted her to be his 'other'."
It is possible, I am told, to legally set up a power of attorney to
accomplish some of the goals you have so ably stated. Not the insurance
bit, of course, but much of the "who gets to be in charge" issues.
Vermont's recent civil union law seems to answer many of the really
tricky questions, I am told.
Peace
John Burgeson (Burgy)
www.burgy.50megs.com
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