A health care proxy, at its most basic definition, is a spokesperson for an individual who may, due to cognitive issues or physical limitations, be unable to make medical decisions on his or her own.
In essence, a proxy knows and understands your wishes and desires when it comes to medical care and even end-of-life situations and will speak and make decisions for you in the event that you can't do it yourself.
A health care proxy is also known as a medical power of attorney. It's important to create a health care power of attorney or medical power of attorney document that will be recognized and legal if your state, region, or province in the event of emergency situations. It is an extremely important document, and the agent acting as a proxy or the medical power of attorney should be trusted, reliable, and capable of making decisions on a patient's behalf.
Just because someone creates a health care proxy does not mean that he or she is incapable of making their own decisions regarding medical care and treatment. For example, if dad has created a proxy or medical power of attorney document, he will still be able to make his own decisions regarding medical care as long as he is cognitively able and competent to do so.
In some cases, the medical power of attorney or proxy agent must abide by certain limitations depending on legal jurisdictions. Most health care proxies or agents are close family friends or family members of the individual familiar with their wishes and desires regarding medical treatments and procedures.
A health care proxy document includes a variety of information as well as limitations, rights, and expectations. Such guidelines depend on jurisdiction or region. However, certain stipulations are generally provided within such a proxy and may include but are not limited to:
It is advisable that any health care proxy
document or medical power of attorney stipulations and documentation be made in
the presence of and following consultation with an attorney.Please see your attorney to get consul on the best way to move forward.
After the document has been signed by all required parties, one form is to be given to the individual’s primary and ancillary healthcare providers, and one copy is given to the proxy agent, any spouse, close friends, or family members who request a copy.
Speak to a lawyer for additional information regarding health-care proxy or medical power of attorney documents and the legalities and limitations of such documents in your region.
For further information please see Caring Connections a program of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO)
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Dec 28, 20 12:23 PM
My mother is 93, in good health, no major heath issues, totally ambulatory. When my father died 6 years ago we found her a beautiful independent senior
Dec 28, 20 12:21 PM
So I lost my mom 18 months ago. After her passing I would come to my parents house to clean and cook a couple of times a week for my dad. He still gets
Dec 28, 20 12:18 PM
I came back home in 2004 to help my dad as he had cancer, he eventually passed away few years later. Well here I am am in 2020 still at home taking care