How to Prepare a Health Care Proxy
A health care proxy is often confused with a similar legal document, the living will. A living will directs family and physicians to provide or withhold life support once the patient is in a vegetative state. The health care proxy designates another person--usually a spouse, significant other or children--to make decisions about the patient's health care as if the patient were making the choices.
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Instructions
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Decide who you trust to make health care decisions for you, if you should become unable to make those decisions for yourself. This must be someone you have asked to fill this role and is of legal capacity to decide to be a proxy. Talk about your wishes and communicate a clear understanding of how you wish your proxy to help you.
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Make a decision about donating your organs after you pass away. Some states use the health care proxy form to instruct medical facilities about your wishes to donate organs or not.
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Choose an alternative health care proxy if you wish to have a second person appointed should your initial appointee become unable to fulfill the duty. Having an alternate person selected and named is not required to complete the form, however.
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Complete the necessary legal forms if you decide to prepare a health care proxy yourself. This paperwork can be obtained from your state government, hospital, charity organization or local office supply store.
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Locate two people other than your appointed proxy (and alternative if you have one) to serve as witnesses. When everyone is gathered, fill in the appropriate names and addresses where designated and have everyone sign as indicated on the form.
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Keep a copy of your health care proxy in an easily accessible place, such as a safe in your home. Give copies to your doctor for your medical file, your hospital and your family. Be sure your family and friends know where to locate the original document should it be needed.
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Tips & Warnings
Seek the assistance of an attorney who specializes in probate law and estate planning if you have any questions. An attorney can prepare the forms if you so desire.
While most people assign close friends or family members to serve as health care agents should they be unable to make their own decisions, some people choose to ask their physicians. Some states, however, prohibit a physician from being a health care proxy because there is a conflict of interest. Check with your state laws before you prepare a health care proxy.
