Next of kin (medical decisions)

[Otherplans]

Due to serious illness I need to nominate a next of kin in case of medical decisions. I have no close living relatives. I do have a very distant relative abroad who I have met once as a child. My oldest friend is named as a beneficiary and executor of my will and as next of kin in my hospital records. I do not want a relative I don't know to make decisions about my care eg if I end up in a coma. How can I make absolutely sure my friend is the one to make these decisions?

You could consider drawing up a lasting Power of Attourney just for health and welfare matters

[[https://www.gov.uk/lasting-power-attorney-duties/health-welfare

Thank you. I'll read up on it.

You need a POA to be sure your friend can make decisions on your behalf.
In order for her to make those decisions in confidence, draw up a detailed advance directive so that she can refer to it - having had to make decisions for my mum this year, things that were very difficult to say were made a lot easier by having what she and dad had agreed written down

Thank you I will. Can I stipulate that this only kicks in when I'm incapacitated? At the moment I am functional.

POA for health and well-being and Advance Decisions only kick in when you have no capacity to make whatever the decision is, so yes. Financial POA can be used with your consent if you still have capacity.

LPoA only ever kicks in if you don't have capacity. Sorry you're having to consider these things so soon

Thank you. Trying to stay optimistic.