Take these Medical Emergency Cards
� please!
Planning for Medical Emergencies

Should your partner, or you be rendered unconscious in an emergency, you could be legally barred from making any medical decisions for each other. You could also be barred from the hospital, or even being informed of the patient�s conditions.

A Medical Emergency Card can be used to alert medical workers regarding medical care.

We recommend that gay men and lesbians in committed relationships, whether legally married or not, to prepare for emergencies by carrying a card that identifies their partner. Medical emergency teams typically search trauma patients for information for emergency contacts, and same-sex couples need to make explicit their partner�s role in handling an emergency.

Durable Powers of Attorney

Attorneys widely recommend that partners also assign each other Durable Powers of Attorney for health care. Using this type of legal document, you can grant your partner the right to make health care decisions on your behalf, if you become incapacitated. Without it, your partner would likely play no role in important medical decisions, and might even be prevented from visiting you in the hospital.

A medical emergency card doesn�t replace the Power of Attorney. Rather, it directs health care workers to alert your partner (or another individual), who can then invoke the authority to act on your behalf.

It is a sensible precaution to carry reduced-size photocopies of the Durable Power of Attorney form in your wallet or car. However, only a signed original has the power of law, so be sure the photocopies are signed and notarized. Protect them from damage, e.g. by keeping them in a sealed sandwich baggie.

State Laws Vary

All states recognize powers of attorney, though laws differ in details. In some states, you can also use the document to stipulate the type of care you will permit if you become incapacitated. You will need to use a state-specific legal form if you live in California, Georgia, Idaho, Kansas, Nevada, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Texas, Vermont, West Virginia or Wisconsin.

In any event, we recommend that you consult a gay/lesbian-friendly family law attorney for specific information and counsel. We can only provide general information, which should not be regarded as legal advice. An attorney also can advise you on other legal precautions, such as wills and relationship agreements.

�A Legal Guide for Lesbian & Gay Couples� by Robin Leonard, Hayden Curry & Denis Clifford, (8th ed. 1994), $24.95 +$4 p&h, Nolo Press, 950 Parker St., Berkeley, CA 94710, 800-992-6656. Complete, accessible guide with detailed methods and forms.

�Lesbian (Out)law: Survival under the rule of law� by Ruthann Robson (1992), $9.95 +$2 p&h, Firebrand Books, 141 The Commons, Ithaca, NY 14850, 607-272-0000. Legal analysis includes discussion of forced separation from lovers, domestic violence, and child custody.

�Life Planning: Legal documents and protections for lesbians and gay men� (1982), $7.50, Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund, 666 Broadway, New York, NY 10012-2317, 212-995-8585. Vital Information on wills, power of attorneys, cohabitation and parenting agreements, and funeral arrangements.

�Living Our Lives: Living together agreements for lesbian, gay and unmarried heterosexual couples in Oregon� by Cynthia Cumfer, J.D. (1990), $9.95 +$1.50 p&h, Cynthia Cumfer, Box 42281, Portland, OR 97242. Includes sample agreements.

�Partnership Protection Documents� (1992), $5, National Center for Lesbian Rights, 870 Market St., #570, San Francisco, CA 94102-3012; 415-392-6257. Durable powers of attorney, physician's directive, guardianship, etc.

�Preserving and Protecting the Families of Lesbians and Gay Men� (1991), $7.50, National Center for Lesbian Rights, 870 Market St., #570, San Francisco, CA 94102-3012; 415-392-6257. Child custody, visitation rights, partnership benefits, same-sex marriages.