What is a Health Proxy?

A health proxy, also called a medical proxy or a health agent, is someone you authorize to make medical decisions on your behalf. Medical proxies play a vital role in your health care if you are incapacitated. Although most states can determine your next of kin legally, a medical proxy form codifies this decision for you.

Who

• Some states have laws regarding who can serve as a health proxy. In general, the proxy can be anyone who is at least 18 years old and is mentally competent. Selecting an alternate proxy is a good idea in case you and your first choice proxy are both incapacitated, such as in a car accident. Choose someone with whom you share values about medical interventions and who will act on your behalf.

What

• Medical proxies step in when you are temporarily or permanently unable to make medical decisions for yourself, but the proxy might face limitations. For instance, New York requires that proxies can show that they had reasonable knowledge if someone would not want heroic interventions. In general, medical proxies will hear choices from your health-care team and make a decision about what they think is best and what you would want.

When

• A health agent will begin to make decisions when a health-care provider determines that a patient is unable to understand options and make decisions. People who are in car or work accidents often need a proxy. Patients in comas from chronic or acute illnesses also need a proxy, as do patients who are still under anesthesia during surgery.

Where

• Choosing a health proxy who lives in the same area is best as this person will be able to reach you in a short time if needed. Health proxies primarily assist doctors in hospital settings, though for long-term care patients, proxies might work with staff at nursing homes and assisted-living facilities.

Why

• Determining a health-care proxy is the best way to ensure your wishes are followed about your medical decisions, even when you are incapable of making decisions. In most cases, a spouse is the first person to be the proxy if someone has no stated proxy. The next person might be an adult child or a parent; beyond that, the waters often muddy. Choosing someone now takes this decision out of the law's hands.