What is a health care proxy?

To help ensure you get the care you want, you can choose a person to make medical decisions for you. This person is called a health care proxy. Choosing a health care proxy is an important part of advance care planning, which involves discussing and preparing for future decisions in the event you can’t make them.

How do you make a health care proxy official?

Similarly, once you decide on your health care proxy, you can make it official by completing a durable power of attorney for health care. Share your forms with your health care proxy, doctors, and loved ones. After you’ve completed your advance directives, make copies and store them in a safe place.

How do I name a health care proxy?

To name a health care proxy, you can use an advance directive called the durable power of attorney for health care. An advance directive is a legal document that provides instructions for medical care and only goes into effect if you cannot communicate your own wishes.