Which document designates a health care proxy?

Which document designates a health care proxy?

• A. Living Will
• B. Durable Power of Attorney
• C. Advanced Directive
• D. HIPAA Authorization

Answer: (B)

The main idea is appointing someone to make medical decisions when you can’t communicate. A durable power of attorney for health care names a specific person to serve as your health care proxy, and it stays in effect even if you become incapacitated. That makes it the document that designates who will make decisions for you. A living will, by contrast, states what you want regarding certain treatments but does not name a decision-maker. An advanced directive is a broader term that can include both your treatment preferences and, in some cases, a proxy, but it isn’t the singular document that designates the proxy in the way a durable power of attorney for health care does. HIPAA authorization deals with who can access your health information, not who makes your medical decisions.

The main idea is appointing someone to make medical decisions when you can’t communicate. A durable power of attorney for health care names a specific person to serve as your health care proxy, and it stays in effect even if you become incapacitated. That makes it the document that designates who will make decisions for you.

A living will, by contrast, states what you want regarding certain treatments but does not name a decision-maker. An advanced directive is a broader term that can include both your treatment preferences and, in some cases, a proxy, but it isn’t the singular document that designates the proxy in the way a durable power of attorney for health care does. HIPAA authorization deals with who can access your health information, not who makes your medical decisions.