What is a health care proxy?

A health care proxy is a legal document that designates a specific individual to make health care decisions on behalf of another person in the event that they are unable to communicate their wishes due to illness, injury, or incapacitation. This designation allows the appointed individual, known as the proxy or agent, to make important choices regarding medical treatments, procedures, and end-of-life care according to the wishes of the person who created the proxy.

This arrangement is particularly vital in situations where a patient cannot express their preferences regarding their health care, ensuring that their values and desires are honored during critical decisions. Establishing a health care proxy is an essential aspect of advance care planning and promotes better patient autonomy by ensuring that a trusted person advocates for the patient’s wishes when they might not be able to do so themselves.

The other options presented do not accurately define a health care proxy. Medical billing documents pertain to financial transactions in health care, health insurance policies cover costs related to health services, and medical consent forms deal with permissions given for specific medical interventions, none of which encompass the role and purpose of a health care proxy.