Guide to Healthcare Power of Attorney in Alamo
A healthcare power of attorney document names someone you trust to make medical decisions if you cannot do so yourself. In Alamo and across Crockett County, having this legal instrument in place helps ensure your wishes are followed and that decisions are made by a person who understands your values and priorities. This guide explains what a healthcare power of attorney does, who can serve as your agent, and how it works alongside other estate planning documents like advance directives and living wills. Planning ahead reduces confusion for family members and medical providers during stressful circumstances.
Creating a healthcare power of attorney involves selecting an agent, specifying the scope of decision-making authority, and documenting your preferences about treatments and life-sustaining measures. This process gives your chosen agent clear authority to speak with doctors, review medical records, and consent to or refuse treatments based on your instructions. Many people combine this document with other planning tools to create a consistent approach to medical decision-making. Taking the time to prepare now can minimize disputes and delays later, and can ensure your values guide your care even if you are unable to communicate them yourself.
Why a Healthcare Power of Attorney Matters in Your Care
A healthcare power of attorney provides clarity and authority during a medical crisis when you cannot make decisions. It allows a trusted individual to communicate your wishes to healthcare providers, access medical information, and authorize treatments consistent with your preferences. This reduces the burden on family members who might otherwise disagree about the appropriate course of action, and it helps medical staff follow a designated decision-maker without delay. Having this document in place can also protect your ability to direct end-of-life care and other sensitive medical choices, ensuring your values remain central to decision-making.
About Jay Johnson Law Firm and Our Approach in Tennessee
Jay Johnson Law Firm serves clients in Alamo and surrounding areas with practical, client-focused planning for healthcare decisions. The firm helps individuals and families prepare clear documents that reflect personal wishes while complying with Tennessee law. We prioritize accessible explanations, careful drafting, and coordination with other planning documents so clients feel confident their medical directives will be recognized by hospitals and providers. Our approach centers on listening to your priorities, explaining options, and preparing documents that reduce uncertainty and help families through difficult times.
Understanding the Healthcare Power of Attorney Process
A healthcare power of attorney grants a chosen agent the legal authority to make medical decisions when you are incapacitated. The scope of that authority can be broad or limited, depending on how you draft the document, and it may take effect immediately or only after a qualified medical determination of incapacity. The document can include guidance about particular treatments, preferences for life-sustaining care, and any limitations on the agent’s power. Careful drafting ensures the agent can access medical records and communicate effectively with healthcare providers when decisions must be made quickly.
In Tennessee, the document must meet statutory requirements to be valid, and it is often used together with an advance directive or living will to provide a full picture of your healthcare preferences. Choosing the right agent and discussing your wishes with them ahead of time ensures they are prepared to act and can make decisions that reflect your values. The process also involves advising clients about state requirements, storing documents where physicians and family can find them, and updating documents when circumstances or preferences change.
What a Healthcare Power of Attorney Actually Does
A healthcare power of attorney is a legal instrument that designates an agent to make medical decisions on your behalf when you cannot do so. That agent’s responsibilities may include consenting to treatments, arranging for care, accessing medical records, and making decisions about hospital transfers or long-term care placement. The document can be tailored to include specific instructions about treatment preferences, spiritual or cultural considerations, and limitations on certain interventions. Clear and precise language reduces ambiguity, helping medical teams follow your chosen path and helping loved ones understand the decision framework they must respect.
Key Elements of an Effective Healthcare Power of Attorney
An effective healthcare power of attorney identifies the agent by name and contact information, specifies when their authority begins, outlines the scope of decision-making, and may include alternate agents if the primary agent cannot serve. It should reference any advance directives or living will provisions and state preferences for life-sustaining treatment, pain management, and organ donation if desired. The process of creating the document involves careful discussion with the client, drafting language that satisfies Tennessee law, and ensuring proper signing and witnessing so healthcare providers will recognize the agent’s authority when it is needed most.
Key Terms and Glossary for Healthcare Directives
Understanding common terms used in healthcare directives helps you make informed choices. Terms include agent, surrogate, incapacity, living will, advance directive, and do-not-resuscitate orders, among others. Each term carries specific legal and medical implications for decision-making and documentation. Knowing these definitions helps you decide what to authorize, how to describe your preferences, and whom to appoint. Clear terminology in the document also reduces the risk of misinterpretation by medical personnel and family members, promoting smoother implementation of your wishes at critical moments.
Agent
An agent is the person you designate in a healthcare power of attorney to make medical decisions on your behalf when you are unable to act. The agent should be someone you trust to follow your wishes, communicate with medical teams, and make potentially difficult choices under stress. You can outline limits to the agent’s authority or provide specific instructions to guide decisions. It is advisable to discuss your values and preferences with the agent in advance so they understand the considerations that should guide their choices during periods of incapacity.
Advance Directive
An advance directive is a written statement that communicates your healthcare preferences in situations where you cannot speak for yourself. This may include a living will, a healthcare power of attorney, or other recorded instructions about pain management, life-sustaining treatment, and palliative care. The directive provides clarity to medical providers and family members and helps ensure that decisions made on your behalf reflect your values. Keeping the document accessible to your appointed agent and medical facilities helps ensure it can be implemented promptly if needed.
Incapacity
Incapacity refers to a condition in which a person is unable to understand information relevant to medical decisions or communicate a consistent choice. Determination of incapacity is typically made by qualified medical professionals and may be required before an agent’s authority under a healthcare power of attorney becomes operative. The document can specify whether the agent’s authority is immediate or contingent on a declared incapacity. Clear instructions about how incapacity is determined can reduce uncertainty and expedite decision-making when time is critical.
Living Will
A living will is a written statement that expresses your preferences about life-sustaining treatments and end-of-life care. Unlike a healthcare power of attorney, which names an agent to decide for you, a living will records specific wishes about interventions such as mechanical ventilation, tube feeding, and resuscitation. Many people use both documents together: the living will states specific treatment preferences while the healthcare power of attorney empowers a trusted person to interpret and apply those preferences in situations the living will may not explicitly address.
Comparing Healthcare Decision-Making Options in Alamo
When planning for incapacity, you can choose among documents like a healthcare power of attorney, living will, or combined advance directive. A power of attorney provides a decision-maker, while a living will offers direct instructions about specific treatments. Each option has strengths: naming an agent allows flexibility and real-time interpretation of circumstances, while written preferences reduce the need for guesswork. Considering family dynamics, medical values, and the complexity of potential decisions helps determine the best combination of documents to protect your interests and ensure continuity of care.
When a Limited Document May Be Enough:
Short-Term Medical Decisions
A limited healthcare power of attorney can be appropriate when you anticipate short-term medical needs or a specific procedure where immediate decisions might be required. For people undergoing surgery or a temporary impairment, appointing an agent with narrowly defined authority to handle that event reduces paperwork while ensuring someone can communicate with clinicians and approve routine medical choices. This approach keeps authority contained to the relevant period or condition, limiting broader decision-making powers while still protecting your ability to receive coordinated care during a defined timeframe.
Clear, Narrow Instructions
A limited document works well when your medical preferences for a particular situation are straightforward and unlikely to require ongoing judgment calls. In such cases, you can provide specific instructions for a short duration or for a single procedure, reducing the need for a full advance directive. The benefit is that family members and medical staff have clear guidance for that event without creating broad authorities that extend into future, unforeseen circumstances. Carefully drafted language ensures the limited authority is understood and applied correctly by all parties involved.
Why a Full Planning Approach Often Makes Sense:
Chronic or Progressive Conditions
A comprehensive approach to healthcare decision-making is often recommended for individuals with chronic or progressive medical conditions that could affect capacity over time. Preparing both a healthcare power of attorney and a living will, and coordinating those with other estate planning documents, provides a consistent framework for long-term care, treatment preferences, and end-of-life decisions. This helps reduce conflict among family members and ensures that care teams have access to directions that reflect a cohesive plan, rather than piecemeal instructions that can be hard to interpret in complex medical situations.
Complex Family or Medical Situations
When family dynamics are complicated or when multiple medical providers are involved, a comprehensive suite of documents can prevent misunderstandings and legal disputes. Comprehensive planning clarifies decision-making authority, names alternates, and records detailed treatment preferences so the appointed agent and health professionals can act consistently. It also allows you to include guidance about cultural, religious, or personal values that should inform care decisions. Taking a broad approach helps align surrogate decision-making with your long-term wishes and reduces the burden on loved ones during stressful times.
Benefits of a Coordinated Healthcare Planning Package
A coordinated set of healthcare planning documents ensures that medical decisions align with your goals, preferences, and values across different scenarios. It reduces ambiguity by combining specific instructions with an appointed decision-maker who can interpret those instructions when situations are not black and white. This approach supports continuity of care, helps providers and family members act quickly, and minimizes the risk of court involvement to resolve disputes. Putting documents in place ahead of time creates a roadmap for future decisions and provides peace of mind for you and your loved ones.
Comprehensive planning also helps in coordinating with other legal documents, such as durable powers of attorney for finances and beneficiary designations, so that medical and financial affairs are handled consistently. Storing copies where family members, agents, and medical providers can access them reduces delays in care. Additionally, clear language tailored to your wishes helps ensure that providers follow your directives and that the person you appoint can effectively advocate for your care. A thoughtful, comprehensive plan is a proactive step that protects personal dignity and decision-making control.
Greater Clarity for Decision-Makers
When documents are thorough and consistent, the appointed decision-maker has a clear basis for choices and can act with confidence on your behalf. This clarity reduces disagreement among family members and helps healthcare teams follow a single, documented plan. Detailed guidance about values and treatment preferences supports decisions in situations not explicitly anticipated by the client. The ability of the agent to reference well-prepared documents streamlines communication with medical providers and reduces the time needed to resolve uncertainty during critical medical events.
Reduced Risk of Legal Disputes
Clear planning documents help prevent adversarial disputes by establishing who is authorized to make decisions and what those decisions should reflect. When the client’s wishes are documented and the agent is officially designated, there is less room for conflicting claims or court intervention. This legal clarity protects the integrity of medical decisions and conserves family resources that might otherwise be spent resolving conflicts. Well-structured planning also helps ensure that decisions are recognized by hospitals and long-term care facilities when time is of the essence.
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Practical Tips for Your Healthcare Power of Attorney
Choose an agent who understands your values
Select someone who knows your beliefs and treatment preferences and who can communicate calmly with medical staff and family. Discuss your priorities in detail so they can represent your wishes accurately. Consider naming an alternate agent in the event your first choice cannot serve. Make sure the person you choose is willing to take on the responsibility and understands where your documents are stored. Open conversations before a crisis help ensure decisions reflect your values rather than guesswork or family conflict.
Document specific preferences
Store and share documents strategically
Keep the original, signed document in a safe but accessible place and provide copies to your appointed agent, primary care physician, and close family members. Let your medical providers know that you have these documents and where they can find them. Many clients also include the documents in a health proxy registry or provide digital access for hospitals. Ensuring the document is available when needed prevents delays in care and helps medical teams follow your chosen plan quickly and accurately.
Reasons to Establish a Healthcare Power of Attorney
Having a healthcare power of attorney prepares you for unexpected medical events and protects your right to have decisions made according to your preferences. Without it, family members may face confusion or disputes about who should act, and courts may be asked to appoint a decision-maker. Creating this document allows you to appoint someone who knows your wishes and can make timely choices that align with your values. It’s a proactive step that preserves personal autonomy and helps prevent distressing delays during medical emergencies.
This planning tool is useful for adults of all ages, especially those undergoing medical procedures, living with chronic conditions, or concerned about potential incapacity. It works together with other parts of a comprehensive plan to cover both medical and financial decision-making, creating a coordinated approach to future needs. Regularly reviewing and updating the document ensures it remains aligned with current health circumstances and relationships. Taking action early gives you control over how care decisions will be made if you cannot communicate them yourself.
Common Situations Where a Healthcare Power of Attorney Is Needed
Typical circumstances that make a healthcare power of attorney essential include planned surgeries, sudden illnesses, progressive neurological conditions, and emergencies where immediate decisions about life-sustaining treatment may be required. It is also important for individuals with complex medical regimens or those who travel frequently. In each case, a designated agent can act quickly to coordinate care, access records, and authorize treatments according to your documented preferences. Establishing this authority ahead of time avoids delays and conflict when medical decisions must be made rapidly.
Planned Medical Procedures
When you schedule surgery or an invasive medical procedure, unexpected complications can arise that render you unable to consent to further care. A healthcare power of attorney allows a trusted person to make urgent decisions about post-operative treatment, pain control, and rehabilitation. Having an agent already authorized prevents delays and ensures decisions are made in line with your wishes. This preparedness also eases communication between medical staff and your family during the recovery period.
Sudden Incapacity or Accident
An accident or sudden medical event can leave you unable to speak or make decisions. A healthcare power of attorney empowers your chosen agent to access information, communicate with emergency personnel, and consent to necessary treatments. This authority helps medical teams act promptly and reduces the likelihood of conflicting instructions from multiple family members. Planning ahead ensures someone who understands your values can make timely choices during a crisis, when decisions may have immediate consequences for your health and recovery.
Progressive Illness
Chronic or progressive illnesses that may impair decision-making over time make a healthcare power of attorney especially valuable. Designating an agent and documenting treatment preferences provides continuity of care through changing health needs. As the illness progresses, the agent can make informed choices that align with your previously stated values and aims, coordinating with multiple providers and long-term care facilities if necessary. This planning helps families make consistent decisions and reduces legal barriers to appropriate medical treatment.
Local Healthcare Decision Planning in Alamo
Jay Johnson Law Firm provides guidance to Alamo residents on preparing healthcare powers of attorney and related advance directives. We help clients choose appropriate agents, draft clear instructions consistent with Tennessee law, and ensure documents are properly executed and distributed. Our service includes reviewing existing plans, suggesting updates, and advising how these documents interact with medical providers and other legal instruments. The goal is to leave clients with practical, accessible documents that family and clinicians can rely on when decisions become necessary.
Why Clients Choose Our Firm for Healthcare Planning
Clients come to Jay Johnson Law Firm for straightforward, reliable help preparing healthcare powers of attorney and advance directives. We prioritize clear communication and practical solutions that reflect individual preferences and comply with Tennessee law. Our team assists with choosing an appropriate agent, drafting precise language, and explaining how documents will be used by medical providers. We focus on making the process understandable and ensuring your decisions are documented in a way that will be recognized and respected when they are needed most.
When working with clients in Alamo and surrounding communities, we emphasize accessibility and responsiveness. We take time to discuss medical concerns, family dynamics, and personal values so the resulting documents provide meaningful guidance. Our approach includes advising on the storage and distribution of documents so agents and healthcare teams can access them quickly. We also review and update documents as circumstances change, helping clients maintain planning that reflects current wishes and legal requirements.
We also assist with coordination among related documents, such as financial powers of attorney and beneficiary designations, to create a cohesive plan. This coordination reduces inconsistencies and helps avoid gaps that could interfere with decision-making. By combining practical legal drafting with clear client guidance, our aim is to provide peace of mind and a documented plan that protects your autonomy and supports family members who may need to act on your behalf.
Ready to Plan Your Healthcare Decisions in Alamo?
How We Prepare Your Healthcare Power of Attorney
Our process begins with a conversation to understand your values, health concerns, and who you trust to act on your behalf. We then draft a document tailored to your wishes and the requirements of Tennessee law, addressing when the agent’s authority begins and any specific treatment preferences. After reviewing and finalizing the language with you, we oversee proper signing and witnessing to ensure validity. Finally, we advise on distribution and storage so your agent and medical providers can access the document if needed.
Step One: Initial Consultation and Decision-Making
During the initial meeting, we discuss your health goals, values, and potential scenarios where an agent would act. We help you consider who is best suited to be your agent and whether alternates are needed. This stage is focused on gathering information and helping you articulate specific preferences for medical treatment, pain management, and life-sustaining interventions. Our goal is to build a foundation for drafting clear and enforceable documents that reflect your wishes and legal needs.
Discussing Your Values and Preferences
We ask detailed questions about your treatment goals, cultural or religious considerations, and preferences for end-of-life care so the document can guide decisions in a wide range of medical contexts. These conversations help translate personal values into practical instructions that your agent and clinicians can follow. We also advise on language that balances clarity with flexibility, ensuring the document can be applied to unforeseen circumstances while remaining faithful to your objectives.
Choosing and Preparing Your Agent
Selecting an agent involves discussing availability, willingness to serve, and the ability to handle difficult conversations with family and providers. We recommend naming alternates and discussing communication plans so your agent is prepared to act. We also provide guidance on how to inform the chosen person about their responsibilities and share the documents they will need. Preparing the agent in advance reduces stress and enables prompt, effective decision-making if the need arises.
Step Two: Drafting and Finalizing Documents
After gathering information, we draft a healthcare power of attorney customized to your preferences and consistent with Tennessee statutory requirements. The drafting phase includes language about the agent’s authority, any limitations, and references to other directives like a living will. We review the document with you, make adjustments as needed, and explain signing and witnessing rules so the document will be recognized by hospitals and care facilities when necessary.
Tailored Document Language
We use precise wording to minimize ambiguity and ensure your instructions are understandable in clinical settings. This may involve describing particular treatments, specifying conditions under which authority becomes active, and including preferences about palliative care. Clear, tailored language helps your agent advocate effectively and ensures medical staff can rely on the document to follow your wishes when you cannot speak for yourself.
Execution and Witnessing
Proper execution typically requires signing in the presence of witnesses or a notary as required under state law. We guide you through the appropriate witnessing or notarization to ensure the document meets Tennessee requirements. After execution, we recommend distributing copies to your agent, primary care provider, and family members, and providing copies to any hospitals or clinics where you receive care to ensure readiness if decisions become necessary.
Step Three: Maintenance and Periodic Review
Once the document is in place, it should be reviewed periodically and updated when your health, relationships, or preferences change. We recommend revisiting your healthcare power of attorney after major life events such as marriage, divorce, new diagnoses, or changes in your chosen agent’s availability. Regular reviews ensure the document remains effective and aligned with your current wishes, and they provide an opportunity to refresh distribution lists so relevant parties have access to the most recent version.
When to Update Your Documents
Updates are advisable after changes in health status, family dynamics, or if your agent becomes unable to serve. If your treatment preferences evolve or you move to a different state, revising the document helps maintain legal effectiveness. We help clients assess whether revisions are needed and make updates that preserve continuity with other estate planning documents, avoiding contradictions that could create confusion for decision-makers and medical personnel.
Keeping Records Accessible
Ensure that signed copies of your healthcare power of attorney and related directives are stored where your agent and healthcare providers can access them quickly. Provide copies to your doctor and hospital, and inform family members of their location. Consider digital backups or registries when appropriate. Keeping records accessible reduces delays in care and helps medical teams honor your choices promptly during emergencies or changes in your condition.
Frequently Asked Questions About Healthcare Power of Attorney
What is a healthcare power of attorney and why do I need one?
A healthcare power of attorney is a legal document that appoints a person to make medical decisions on your behalf if you cannot communicate or lack decision-making capacity. It is a crucial component of advance care planning because it ensures someone you trust can speak with medical providers, review treatment options, and consent to or refuse procedures consistent with your wishes. Without this document, family members may face uncertainty and delays when urgent decisions are required.Preparing a healthcare power of attorney helps avoid conflicts among relatives and provides clear authority for medical teams to act. It allows you to specify both general decision-making authority and particular treatment preferences, helping to align care with your values. Proper execution and distribution of the document to your agent, physician, and care facilities improves the likelihood that your wishes will be honored when they matter most.
Who can I name as my healthcare agent in Tennessee?
In Tennessee, you may name any adult you trust to serve as your healthcare agent, such as a spouse, adult child, close friend, or other trusted adult. It is important to choose someone who understands your values, is willing to carry out your wishes, and can handle communication with medical teams and family members. Naming alternates is recommended in case your primary choice is unavailable or unwilling to serve.Before naming an agent, discuss your preferences and the responsibilities involved so they are prepared to act. Consider factors like geographic proximity, availability during emergencies, and the person’s ability to make decisions under stress. Selecting an agent who shares your core values helps ensure they will represent your wishes faithfully.
When does an agent’s authority under a healthcare power of attorney start?
An agent’s authority can be immediate upon signing the document or it can be made effective only after a certified medical determination of incapacity, depending on how you draft the healthcare power of attorney. Making authority contingent on incapacity often requires a doctor’s statement or specific medical criteria to be satisfied before the agent steps in. Immediate authority can be useful for individuals who simply want someone to handle healthcare matters right away.The choice depends on your circumstances and preferences. If you prefer added oversight, you may require medical confirmation of incapacity. If you want the agent to act without delay in routine decisions, immediate authority may be appropriate. Discussing options with your attorney ensures the document reflects your intentions and complies with Tennessee procedural requirements.
How does a healthcare power of attorney differ from a living will?
A healthcare power of attorney appoints a person to make medical decisions on your behalf, while a living will records specific preferences about life-sustaining treatment and end-of-life care. The power of attorney provides a decision-maker who can interpret your wishes in unanticipated situations, and the living will provides direct instructions about certain interventions. Many people use both documents together to create a comprehensive plan that combines named decision-making authority with expressed treatment preferences.Using both tools reduces ambiguity and helps ensure your choices are implemented in a variety of medical scenarios. The appointed agent can consult your living will when making decisions, which provides guidance when situations arise that were not explicitly covered by prior instructions. Together, these documents offer both clarity and flexibility.
Can I limit the powers of my agent?
Yes, you can limit the powers of your agent by specifying particular actions they may or may not take, or by restricting their authority to certain circumstances. The healthcare power of attorney can include detailed instructions about treatments the agent may refuse or must not authorize, as well as limitations on decisions such as organ donation or certain life-support measures. Clear, specific language helps communicate your exact wishes and reduces the risk of misinterpretation.However, overly restrictive provisions can sometimes complicate decision-making or delay care in urgent situations. It is important to balance specific limitations with enough flexibility for the agent to respond effectively to unforeseen medical developments. Working through possible scenarios during drafting helps achieve a careful, practical balance between control and adaptability.
Do healthcare providers have to follow my agent’s decisions?
Healthcare providers generally follow the decisions of a properly appointed agent acting under a valid healthcare power of attorney, provided the agent’s authority is in effect and the document complies with legal requirements. Hospitals and clinicians typically require proof of the document and may need to verify that the agent’s authority is active, particularly if incapacity must be confirmed. Having the document properly executed and accessible speeds recognition by medical teams.If there is a dispute or concern about the agent’s decisions, providers may seek guidance from hospital ethics committees or legal counsel. Clear documentation, prior communication with providers, and timely access to the signed instrument reduce the likelihood of challenges and support coordinated, legally recognized decision-making.
How often should I review or update my healthcare power of attorney?
You should review your healthcare power of attorney periodically, especially after major life events such as marriage, divorce, the diagnosis of a new medical condition, the death or incapacity of a named agent, or a significant change in your treatment preferences. Regular reviews every few years can ensure the document reflects your current wishes and that the chosen agent remains appropriate. Updating the document helps avoid conflicts and ensures the instrument reflects both current relationships and medical priorities.When updating, ensure the new version is properly executed and distributed to your agent, healthcare providers, and family members. Destroy or collect prior versions to reduce confusion, and confirm medical facilities have the most recent documents on file so the correct instrument is used if decisions are needed.
What happens if I don’t have a healthcare power of attorney?
Without a healthcare power of attorney, decisions may fall to family members under state default rules or require court involvement to appoint a guardian or conservator, which can be time-consuming and stressful. Family disputes over who should make decisions or what treatment aligns with your wishes are more likely without clear documentation. This uncertainty can delay care and create emotional strain for loved ones who must guess what you would have wanted.Creating a healthcare power of attorney avoids these risks by naming a trusted decision-maker and recording your preferences. It provides legal authority and a documented plan for medical providers to follow, helping ensure decisions are timely and consistent with your values even if you cannot speak for yourself.
Can I appoint more than one agent to act together?
You can name successor agents or alternate agents to serve if the primary agent is unavailable, which provides continuity if your first choice cannot act. Some people consider naming co-agents to act jointly, but joint authority can sometimes complicate decision-making if the co-agents disagree. Clear instructions about whether agents must act jointly or successively help prevent deadlocks and ensure decisions can proceed when necessary.Discuss your intentions with potential co-agents or alternates so they understand how you expect decisions to be made. Naming a clear order of succession or specifying whether agents act together or separately provides guidance that helps avoid delays and disagreements in critical situations.
How do I make sure my healthcare power of attorney is recognized by local hospitals?
To help ensure local hospitals recognize your healthcare power of attorney, provide copies to your primary care physician and hospitals where you receive care, and inform staff of the document’s existence. Keep a signed original in a safe but accessible place, and give certified copies to your agent and family. Some facilities maintain registries or allow you to upload documents to your medical record, which improves access during emergencies.Confirming acceptance with local hospitals and asking how they prefer to receive or store advance directives can prevent delays. When providers have the document on file or know where to find it, your agent’s authority can be verified quickly if decisions must be made in urgent circumstances.