How to Choose a Good Health Care Proxy (Agent)
By Brian Leosz, BS in Business Administration and Management
Blog
Advance directives & living wills
An advance directive is an umbrella term referring to legal documents like a living will, health care proxy, and so on. These documents outline your medical wishes for family and medical professionals.
Health care agent & health care proxy
A health care agent or health care proxy is someone you authorize to make medical decisions on your behalf. If you're unable to speak or act for yourself, this trusted person advocates for your medical decisions, wellbeing, and type of medical care. In other words, this is someone who will follow your wishes outlined in your living will or advance directive, and it's an important part of planning for uncertainty.
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Living wills
A living will is a type of written, legal statement that outlines your medical wishes and preferred treatment. If you're no longer able to give informed consent, this document states your wishes and preferences, particularly relating to pain management, organ donation, and measures used to keep you alive. In your living will, you might name a health care proxy to make decisions on your behalf if you're not able.
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Who’s Allowed to Witness a Last Will or Living Will?
By Michael T. Flannery, BA, JD
Non-legal advance care planning
Advance care planning isn't always about filling out legal documents. It can also be non-legal planning, like talking to loved ones about your wishes, creating a medical plan, or even just talking to your doctor. It's important to have these conversations and to think about these medical decisions at any age. By taking the first step to create a non-legal advance care plan, you're more prepared for the future.
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Long-Term Care Pre-Planning Checklist: 10 Items to Consider
By Amanda Lambert, MS, CMC, ALCP
All Articles about Advance directives & living wills
End-of-Life Planning Documents
By Carolyn Bunge, BA in History
What Is an Advance Directive? Definition + Purpose
By Amanda Lambert, MS, CMC, ALCP
How to Choose a Good Health Care Proxy (Agent)
By Brian Leosz, BS in Business Administration and Management
What’s a Health Care Proxy? Forms, Role + FAQs
By Amanda Lambert, MS, CMC, ALCP
How to Get Loved Ones to Do End-of-Life Planning
By Amanda Lambert, MS, CMC, ALCP
By Brian Leosz, BS in Business Administration and Management
What's a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) Order?
By Monica Sabia, RN, BSN, CHPN
Right to Die Laws in Each US State
By Klaudia Krystyna
Who Has the Right to Make Funeral Arrangements?
By Sam Tetrault, BA in English
Prepaid Cremation Services Explained: Cost, Process & More
By Sarah Kessler
How to Choose a Guardian: 3 Steps
By Michael T. Flannery, BA, JD
What’s a Living Will? And How Do You Make One?
By Michael T. Flannery, BA, JD
What’s a Letter of Competency From Your Physician?
By Amanda Lambert, MS, CMC, ALCP
How to Find the Best Affordable Health Insurance: Companies, Cost + Reviews
By Bob Phillips, BA in Sociology
Who’s Allowed to Witness a Last Will or Living Will?
By Michael T. Flannery, BA, JD
How to Set Up & View a Medical ID On an iPhone
By Sam Tetrault, BA in English
How to Start an Advance Directive Discussion
By Amanda Lambert, MS, CMC, ALCP
What Should Be Included in Advance Directive Forms?
By Amanda Lambert, MS, CMC, ALCP
What’s a Health Care Surrogate? Definition, Role + Forms
By Amanda Lambert, MS, CMC, ALCP
What Happens to a Power of Attorney After Death?
By Kirbee Anderson, JD
When (and How) to Intervene With Aging Parents
By Amanda Lambert, MS, CMC, ALCP
POLST vs. DNR: Which Do You Need?
By Amanda Lambert, MS, CMC, ALCP
10 Pros and Cons of Life Support Explained
By Amanda Lambert, MS, CMC, ALCP
Guide to 12 Common End-of-Life Decisions
By Amanda Lambert, MS, CMC, ALCP
Health Care Proxy vs. Power of Attorney
By Amanda Lambert, MS, CMC, ALCP