Appointing a healthcare proxy is part of advance care planning, giving peace of mind to individuals. A healthcare proxy has the responsibility of making medical decisions on behalf of someone who can no longer communicate those decisions due to illness, injury or incapacitation.
Nothing beats the reassurance of knowing that one’s health preferences will be respected even when one cannot advocate for oneself. Individuals can benefit from exploring the various types of healthcare decisions that a healthcare proxy may be responsible for.
Medical treatment decisions
One of the primary responsibilities of a healthcare proxy is to approve or decline medical treatment options. These include choices about:
- Whether to approve, decline or change prescribed medications
- Deciding whether to proceed with recommended surgeries or interventions
- Giving consent or withholding approval for tests such as MRIs, blood work or biopsies
A healthcare proxy works closely with healthcare providers, helping to ensure treatments align with the patient’s prior instructions.
End-of-life care decisions
If the patient faces a terminal condition or severe deterioration, the proxy may be required to make challenging end-of-life care choices. These include:
- Determining whether to use interventions such as ventilators or feeding tubes
- Authorizing or declining CPR in case of cardiac arrest
- Transitioning the patient to comfort-focused care rather than curative treatment
These decisions can be emotionally difficult, but a healthcare proxy must follow the patient’s wishes as stated in advance directives.
Long-term care and living arrangements
The healthcare proxy may also have to decide where the patient will receive care, particularly if long-term care becomes necessary. Decisions in this area include:
- Choosing the most suitable environment for the patient
- Arranging for caregivers, home health aides or rehabilitation services
- Facilitating smooth transitions from a hospital to another care setting
These decisions help ensure the patient’s access to appropriate care facilities.
To help ensure the proxy can act confidently and in alignment with the patient’s wishes, it is essential that individuals appoint someone they trust. Individuals should also seek legal support to help ensure they clearly communicate their preferences through advance directives.