How a Healthcare Power of Attorney Saves Legacies

The Signature That Could’ve Saved ₱140 Million

The biggest threat to your family legacy isn’t inflation or estate taxes. Surprisingly, it is silence in the ICU when no one is willing or legally able to decide.

In elite Filipino-Chinese families, it’s rarely a lack of money that causes ruin; it’s a lack of planning. One powerful legal tool could have saved one family ₱140 million and acres of prime land.

With ICU costs rising and estate taxes fixed at 6%, families with aging parents or high health risks face financial wipeouts if no one is legally designated to make medical decisions. Even in ultra-affluent households, decision paralysis during medical emergencies has cost families their businesses, properties, and dignity.

This is especially urgent for families with multi-asset portfolios, elderly matriarchs, or multiple siblings who don’t see eye-to-eye. A Durable Healthcare Power of Attorney (DHCPOA) and an Advance Healthcare Directive aren’t just paperwork—they are shields that preserve harmony, protect wealth, and prevent emotional chaos when it matters most.

The ICU is Where Family Empires Crumble

A third-generation successor named Robert (not his real name) watched his grandmother deteriorate over four years. No sibling could agree on care or costs. Without a healthcare proxy, no one could decide, even when she was in a coma. The total hospitalization cost from 1992 to 1996 was around ₱20 million (₱96 million today).

Urgent Action: Appoint a healthcare agent before a diagnosis forces your hand.

Chronic Illness Without a Plan is a Time Bomb

All five of Robert’s aunts and uncles had diabetes. None prepared for dialysis or ICU care.

Every sibling, including his Dad, passed before 65, with treatment averaging ₱5M each, a whopping ₱44.8M today. Their family’s aluminum-glass empire and multiple hectares of land crumbled to cover the cost. An entire empire, supposedly his inheritance, vanished right before his eyes.

Urgent Action: Prepare medical directives if chronic illness runs in your bloodline.

The Third Generation Curse is a genuine issue unless we take action to break its cycle.

The so-called “third-generation curse” is a pattern where wealth disappears in the hands of the grandchildren. Robert lived it. But today, he’s building a business, investing wisely, and establishing legal protections for his heirs.

Urgent Action: Wealth isn’t just a fruit of your hard work and significant decisions; you also need to protect it at its core with systems, not superstition.

Some discreet HNW families are implementing dual-layer healthcare planning: a Durable Healthcare Power of Attorney paired with a Medical Directive, reviewed annually.

For politically connected families, offshore copies of these documents are also secured with trustees, not for secrecy, but for logistical access when needed.

One wealthy patriarch I know even assigned a non-family decision-maker his family trusted advisor as the final authority in medical matters, precisely to prevent internal conflict.

Insider move: Assign a successor agent in case the first one is unavailable or emotionally compromised during a crisis.

Your wealth isn’t just numbers on a spreadsheet—it’s the future stability of your family. In the quiet moments between life and death, preparation is power. Even in coma, you can speak your wishes to your loved ones.

Let’s discreetly set up your Durable Healthcare Power of Attorney and Advance Directive because legacy isn’t just about what you leave behind, but what you protect along the way.

About the Author

David Isaiah Angway is a Chartered Wealth Advisor, Estate Planner, and Strategic Financial Partner to high-net-worth individuals, affluent professionals, and legacy-focused families across the Philippines. With over ₱948 million in client risk portfolios under management, he guides clients through high-stakes decisions involving wealth structuring, succession, and multigenerational legacy.

With 13+ years of experience in financial services, David is known for his values-based approach, discretion, and deep expertise in estate planning and wealth preservation. His insights have been featured on TEDx, Bloomberg Philippines, ANC On the Money, Bilyonaryo News Channel, Moneysense Magazine, and BusinessMirror.

Disclaimer

The information provided in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal, or tax advice. Every high-net-worth individual or family has unique needs, goals, and risk exposures. Readers are strongly encouraged to consult their board of advisors—including a licensed financial planner, estate attorney, tax consultant, and relevant professionals—before making any financial decisions or implementing strategies discussed herein. Names and scenarios have been changed to protect privacy.

David Isaiah Angway assumes no liability for any loss, harm, or damages arising directly or indirectly from the use of this content. While every effort is made to ensure accuracy and relevance, no guarantees are made regarding the applicability of the information to your specific circumstances.

By reading this content, you agree that David Isaiah Angway is not responsible for any decisions you make based on this article.