Health Care Proxy
Definition
A health care proxy, or health care proxy form, is a legal document that allows a person to choose someone to make medical decisions on their behalf when they are unable to do so. In some states the person who is authorized may be called a proxy; in others the person may be called an agent.
Description
A health care proxy form is part of a set of legal documents that allows a person to appoint someone to make medical decisions for them if or when they cannot act on their own behalf, and to make sure that health care professionals follow their wishes regarding specific medical treatments at the end of life. These documents are referred to as advance directives. The document naming the person appointed to make the decisions is called a health care proxy. The document that lists...
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