Which document allows you to appoint someone to make health care decisions for you if you become unable to make them yourself?

Which document allows you to appoint someone to make health care decisions for you if you become unable to make them yourself?

• A. Living Will
• B. Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care
• C. Health Care Proxy
• D. Advance Directive

Answer: (B)

When you want someone you trust to make medical decisions for you if you’re unable to, you use a durable power of attorney for health care. This legal document names an agent (often a spouse, family member, or trusted friend) who is authorized to speak for you, choose treatments, and coordinate with doctors once you can’t represent your own interests. It remains in effect even after you lose decision-making capacity, which is why it’s described as durable. You can also set how broad that authority is or specify preferences to guide the agent. A living will, by contrast, records your treatment preferences but does not appoint someone to decide for you. An advance directive is the broad category that can include both a living will and a durable power of attorney for health care. A health care proxy refers to the person you name, but the document that actually designates that person is the durable power of attorney for health care.

When you want someone you trust to make medical decisions for you if you’re unable to, you use a durable power of attorney for health care. This legal document names an agent (often a spouse, family member, or trusted friend) who is authorized to speak for you, choose treatments, and coordinate with doctors once you can’t represent your own interests. It remains in effect even after you lose decision-making capacity, which is why it’s described as durable. You can also set how broad that authority is or specify preferences to guide the agent.

A living will, by contrast, records your treatment preferences but does not appoint someone to decide for you. An advance directive is the broad category that can include both a living will and a durable power of attorney for health care. A health care proxy refers to the person you name, but the document that actually designates that person is the durable power of attorney for health care.