Resources for Choosing a Health Care Proxy

One of the most important steps you can take about your own health care is to name a health care proxy.

A health care proxy is a person you appoint to make health care decisions for you—according to your wishes—if you are unable to make or communicate those decisions for yourself. Generally, this situation occurs either because you are unconscious or because your mental state is such that you do not have the capacity to make your own decisions.

We can help guide you as you choose your own health care proxy and answer any questions about the process of choosing one and getting a heath care proxy document in place. Our services include creating health care proxy documents for our clients. Contact us today to start the process.

As part of our mission, we gathered some resources you can use as you consider the issue of choosing a health care proxy.

From Massachusetts Health Decisions: FAQs for the Public

Massachusetts Health Decisions (MHD) is a nonprofit organization that provides education and information on ethical issues in health care. One of its resources is a FAQs for the Public on the Massachusetts Health Care Proxy. It answers such questions as what the Massachusetts Health Care Proxy Law allows, who can complete a health care proxy, and guidelines on who you should choose as your health care agent.

From the American Bar Association: Living Wills, Health Care Proxies, & Advance Health Care Directives

This article from the American Bar Association covers health care proxies as well as living wills and advance directives.

From The Conversation Project: Who Will Speak for You? How to Choose a Health Care Proxy and Your Guide to Choosing a Health Care Proxy

Founded in 2010, The Conversation Project is a public initiative focused on tools, guidance, and resources about end-of-life care decisions. These two downloadable guides cover guidelines about when to choose a health care proxy, who to choose, and how to prepare your health care agent for the responsibility.