The Powers of Attorney Act 2006 was amended effective from 1 September 2016. There are a number of changes you should be aware of.
Most of the amendments affect Enduring Powers of Attorney.
The amendments are to remove barriers to people with impaired decision-making capacity participating in medical research. Removing these barriers may allow these people to receive beneficial treatment not otherwise available to them. It may also help health researchers develop innovative treatments that may benefit a class of people with a certain condition.
A new part has been introduced to the POA Act concerning medical research matters (Part 4.3A). The new material sets out the process for enduring attorneys authorised for medical research matters to consider the principal’s participation in low-risk research and medical research.
There are other changes to the Act and to the form. They are explained in our JP Brief JPB-008 What you need to know about changes to the Powers of Attorney Act.