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What Does DPA Mean in Medical Terms?
DPA stands for durable power of attorney. Legal authority document for another person.
durable power of attorney
Legal authority document for another person.
Where you will see DPA
You will most often see DPA in medical charts and clinical notes, nursing notes, care plans and handovers.
Example
A chart note might use “DPA” as shorthand for durable power of attorney when documenting a patient's care.
Related abbreviations
- 1:1 — one-to-one observation
- 2g Na diet — two-gram sodium diet
- 4-point restraints — four-point restraints
- A&O — alert and oriented
- A&O x4 — alert and oriented times four (person place time situation)
- A-line — A-line (arterial line shorthand)
- a.c. — ante cibum (before meals)
- a.m. — ante meridiem (morning)
Browse the full Medical Abbreviations guide — 5,715 entries, searchable A–Z and by specialty.
Educational reference only. This guide is for learning and quick reference. Abbreviations vary between hospitals, countries and specialties, and some are discouraged because they can be misread. Always write and interpret orders using your own institution’s approved abbreviation list, and check anything unclear with the prescriber or your local policy.