An Advance Health Care Directive is a power of attorney for health care decisions. An AHCD gives the agent the ability to make all medical decisions for the principal. Unless it specifically states otherwise, an AHCD allows the agent to make these medical decisions, but only if the principal is incapacitated and unable to make the decisions personally, such as when the principal is unconscious or mentally incapacitated. Suppose the principal cannot make medical decisions personally or is unable to communicate the medical decision. In that case, the AHCD allows the agent, often a family member or guardian, to make those decisions on their behalf while being limited to these decisions, unlike the financial power of attorney which deals with the management of property and personal affairs.