If the client regains the ability to make medical decisions, can the proxy continue to make decisions on their behalf?

If the client regains the ability to make medical decisions, can the proxy continue to make decisions on their behalf?

• A. No
• B. Yes, for a limited time
• C. Yes, indefinitely
• D. Only with court approval

Answer: (A)

The main idea is that a surrogate decision-maker acts only while the patient lacks capacity. A proxy’s authority is to stand in for the patient’s choices when the patient cannot understand or decide about their care. When the client regains the ability to make medical decisions, autonomy returns and the proxy’s role ends. The patient should resume making their own medical choices, or revoke the proxy if they had previously granted one, and no ongoing authority is required from the proxy unless the patient clearly remains unable to decide. In practice, this means the proxy cannot continue deciding on the patient’s behalf once capacity is restored.

The main idea is that a surrogate decision-maker acts only while the patient lacks capacity. A proxy’s authority is to stand in for the patient’s choices when the patient cannot understand or decide about their care. When the client regains the ability to make medical decisions, autonomy returns and the proxy’s role ends. The patient should resume making their own medical choices, or revoke the proxy if they had previously granted one, and no ongoing authority is required from the proxy unless the patient clearly remains unable to decide. In practice, this means the proxy cannot continue deciding on the patient’s behalf once capacity is restored.