Healthcare proxy

A healthcare proxy is a legal document used in the United States. It allows a person to choose a proxy: someone who will make medical decisions for the person if they can't do so themselves.

A person can revoke (cancel) their healthcare proxy form at any time, for any reason. Signing a new healthcare proxy automatically cancels out any older forms. A person can sign a new proxy form as often as they want.

Different states have different rules, regulations, and documents concerning healthcare proxies.

 How it works 
If a person became unconscious, and their doctor certified that they could not make decisions, their healthcare proxy would become activated. This would give the proxy the right to make the person's medical decisions. 

However, the healthcare proxy is only valid while the person is incapacitated (unable to make their own decisions or do regular activities). If the person regained consciousness and could make their own decisions again, the healthcare proxy would de-activate and lose all power. 

 Powers 
A healthcare proxy only has the right to make medical decisions for an incapacitated person. They have no other powers. For example, they cannot make financial decisions.

The National Institute on Aging points out that a person can create the healthcare proxy that works best for them:You can specify how much control your proxy has over your medical care, including whether he or she can make a wide range of decisions or only a few specific ones. You can also choose which decisions you’d prefer your doctor to make and outline other preferences, such as requiring your proxy to talk with certain family members before making a decision. 

 Related pages 

 Consent

 External links 

 Sample healthcare proxy form from the state of Massachusetts
 Sample healthcare proxy form from the state of Texas
 Sample healthcare proxy form from the state of California

 References 

Category:Medicine stubs
Category:Medicine