A health care agent is a person chosen to make medical decisions for another, should a severe illness or injury occur that makes communication impossible. The document that grants this decision-making power to the person selected is called a medical power of attorney.
A health care agent may also be called a health care proxy or surrogate or an attorney-in-fact.
Although laws vary by state, a health care agent can usually make medical treatment decisions at the end of life or anytime a person is not able to communicate. As soon as a person selects a health care agent, it is important to thoroughly discuss and document medical care preferences, such as when to continue or abandon life-support measures.
| By | Healthwise Staff |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Shelly R. Garone, MD - Palliative Medicine |
| Last Revised | March 4, 2010 |
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