A designation of health care surrogate, also known as a medical power of attorney or health care proxy, is a legal document that allows an individual to appoint someone they trust to make medical decisions on their behalf in the event they become unable to do so due to incapacitation or inability to communicate. This trusted person is referred to as a healthcare surrogate.
Healthcare surrogates play a crucial role in advocating for the individual’s medical treatment preferences and ensuring that their wishes are respected, especially in situations where the individual is unconscious, mentally incapacitated, or facing a severe medical condition.
Key Points about Health Care Surrogates:
- Appointment: The individual, also known as the principal, chooses a health care surrogate and specifies their role and authority through a written designation. This designation must comply with the legal requirements of the relevant jurisdiction.
- Decision-Making Authority: The health care surrogate is authorized to make medical decisions on the individual’s behalf based on the preferences and instructions expressed in the living will or through other conversations with the principal. The surrogate’s decisions should align with the principal’s known wishes, values, and beliefs.
- Scope of Authority: The scope of the health care surrogate’s authority can vary based on the principal’s preferences. It may cover a wide range of medical decisions or be limited to specific situations, depending on what the principal outlines in the designation.
- Communication: Healthcare surrogates must effectively communicate with healthcare providers and family members to ensure everyone is aware of the principal’s medical preferences. They act as advocates for the principal, making sure that medical professionals understand and follow the individual’s wishes.
- Decision-Making Process: In making decisions, healthcare surrogates should consider what the principal would have wanted based on the information available. They may also consult with the principal’s living will, advanced directives, or other healthcare preferences to guide their choices.
- Relevance: A designation of health care surrogate becomes important in situations where the principal is unable to make their own medical decisions due to illness, injury, or cognitive impairment.