Nobody Gets Out AliveHealth care proxy
The person you name to make medical decisions for you if you can’t.
Not medical advice. This page is general information. Laws and forms vary where you live, and so does every family. Your doctor can tell you what applies to you.
A health care proxy is the person you name to make medical decisions for you if you can’t make them yourself. Depending on where you live it may be called a health care agent, a health care representative, or a durable power of attorney for health care.
It is one of the most important pieces of planning, because no form can cover every situation. A person who knows you can decide what you would have wanted when something unexpected happens.
Choose someone who knows you well, who can stay steady under pressure, and who is willing to speak up for what you want even when it is hard. It does not have to be the person closest to you or the oldest child. Many people also name an alternate in case the first person is not available.
Then tell them. Being named is not enough. The conversation is what lets them speak for you with confidence.
Questions to talk over
- If you couldn’t speak for yourself, who would you trust to speak for you?
- Does that person know what matters most to you?
Covered in Episode 1: The Conversation We Keep Avoiding.