Being a Health Care Proxy: What You Should Know

When you operate as a loved one's healthcare proxy, you make critical medical decisions on their behalf. If your loved one becomes incapacitated in their ability to communicate with health care providers, you are responsible for ensuring that their care preferences are recognized.

Your role as a healthcare proxy is to protect your loved one's interests when they are in danger. Because medical decisions can have a significant impact on patient outcomes, healthcare proxies play an important but difficult role.

What Is a Health Care Proxy?

A health care proxy is someone who makes health care decisions on behalf of another person, or by proxy. These decision-makers include healthcare agents appointed by the patient through a power of attorney, court-appointed guardians, and legal surrogates. When the patient lacks an agent or guardian, legal surrogates are close family members who are called upon to make decisions.

Understanding the Role

A healthcare proxy's responsibilities include the following:

• Examining and staying up to date on your loved one's medical information.
  
• Consult with the medical team and ask questions about your loved one's condition and treatment.
  
• Providing consent for and declining medical tests and treatments on their behalf.
  
• Choosing where your loved one will receive care, including hospitals, assisted living facilities, and nursing homes.
  
• To the extent that your loved one is able to communicate, facilitating communication between your loved one and doctors and nurses.
  
• Making financial and insurance decisions for your loved one.

Depending on the circumstances, you may know ahead of time that you will serve as a healthcare proxy, or you may be called upon unexpectedly. Keep the following points in mind if you have time to prepare for your role:

• Speak with the person you are representing. Understanding their values, beliefs, and treatment preferences will help you make decisions that are in line with their wishes.
  
• Learn about your loved one's medical history and health care team.
  
• Evaluate any relevant legal documents. Your loved one may have a power of attorney naming you as their health care agent as well as a living will outline their end-of-life wishes.

Communicating With the Person You’re Representing

It is essential that you comprehend the patient's wishes and values when acting as a surrogate decision-maker. It is advisable to talk to them about their medical preferences early and frequently because you cannot predict how their condition will change.

If your loved one is unable to communicate, consider speaking with their other close family members. Those close to the patient may be able to provide additional information, even if you are the final decision maker.

Making Health Care Decisions as a Medical Proxy

Consider the following steps when making medical decisions for someone else.

• Identify the medical facts. To get a complete picture, speak with healthcare providers and review records. Bringing a list of questions and taking notes when you meet with the doctor, as well as compiling a list of all medications, are both good practices.
  
• Consider your options. Inquire with your doctor about the risks and potential benefits of each option.
  
• Determine what the patient desires. Your role is to respect the wishes of the individual, even if they differ from your own. In the event of a disagreement between a patient's family and a healthcare professional, follow the patient's wishes.
  
• If you can't figure out what the patient wants, do what's best for them.

End-of-Life Decision-Making by Proxy

End-of-life decisions are frequently delegated to healthcare proxies. For instance, doctors may ask you whether you want to prolong your loved one's life or let them die naturally. You may be required to consent to medical research or experimental treatments on behalf of the patient.

You play an important role in the decision-making process as the health care proxy. Following the patient's wishes is critical when making end-of-life decisions for them.

Cite any advance directives that the person may have. Perhaps they had a living will in which they expressed their desire to either prolong life or provide noninvasive care to keep them comfortable as they passed away. End-of-life and funeral instructions may be included in their health care power of attorney.

You may have to decide whether or not to participate in medical research on occasion. It is critical to comprehend the study's purpose, as well as the risks and potential benefits. Participation in the research is entirely optional. You have the option to decline if it would be detrimental to your loved one.

Self-Care for Health Care Proxies

Being a decision-maker in health care can be stressful, and you may experience grief as the patient's health deteriorates. To avoid burnout, you must care for yourself in the same way that you care for your loved one.

Getting enough sleep, exercising, practicing meditation, and seeking mental health counseling are all strategies for dealing with stress and emotions that may arise in your role as a healthcare proxy.

Seek Additional Assistance

Consulting with a professional can also assist you in better understanding your role.

For additional assistance, consider contacting a geriatric care manager or an estate planning attorney.