Which document designates a surrogate decision-maker for health care when the patient cannot decide?

Which document designates a surrogate decision-maker for health care when the patient cannot decide?

• A. Living will
• B. Do Not Resuscitate order
• C. Durable power of attorney for health care
• D. Informed consent

Answer: (C)

The important idea is appointing someone to make medical decisions when you’re unable to. A durable power of attorney for health care (also called a health care proxy) is the document that allows you to designate a specific person to act as your surrogate decision-maker. This ensures there’s a trusted contact who can interpret your wishes and advocate for your preferences in medical situations where you can’t speak for yourself. A living will, by contrast, records your treatment preferences if you become incapacitated but does not name a person to decide for you. A Do Not Resuscitate order is a clinician’s instruction about whether to perform CPR—it’s not about appointing a decision-maker. Informed consent is the process of obtaining permission for a procedure, not a mechanism to designate who makes decisions.

The important idea is appointing someone to make medical decisions when you’re unable to. A durable power of attorney for health care (also called a health care proxy) is the document that allows you to designate a specific person to act as your surrogate decision-maker. This ensures there’s a trusted contact who can interpret your wishes and advocate for your preferences in medical situations where you can’t speak for yourself.

A living will, by contrast, records your treatment preferences if you become incapacitated but does not name a person to decide for you. A Do Not Resuscitate order is a clinician’s instruction about whether to perform CPR—it’s not about appointing a decision-maker. Informed consent is the process of obtaining permission for a procedure, not a mechanism to designate who makes decisions.