Health Care Proxy
Health Care Proxy
I am sure that at one point or another you have thought about a health care proxy in case of the possibility of being struck by a catastrophic injury or illness. The question that you should be asking yourself is who do you know and trust that best understands what would be your wishes in these particular situations. It is rare that we pose or discuss these questions, and even when they are asked many times they are put aside since we do not necessarily want to think about them. However, the only way to insure that your wishes are met is to appoint a health care proxy. This is a person that you designate to whom you grant authority to make medical decisions in the event you are unable to make them for yourself.
Most commonly, this situation occurs either because you are unconscious or because your mental state is such that you do not have the legal capacity to make your own decisions. Normally, a single individual is appointed as your health care proxy, though quite commonly one or more alternate persons are designated in the event your first choice is unavailable. Medical professionals will make the initial determination as to whether or not you have the capacity to make your own medical treatment decisions and if they determine that you cannot, then they will consult with your health care proxy to determine the course of your care.
When I assist people in determining who they should select, I make sure that all aspects of such decisions are considered, including the age of the person that you may select, where they reside, their moral and religious beliefs which will affect the decisions, and other specific questions to ensure that the person or persons that you select are the right choice.