medical proxy
Designated health decider
A medical proxy is a person legally authorized to make healthcare decisions on behalf of someone who cannot make them for themselves—due to incapacity, unconsciousness, or severe illness.
The proxy follows the patient's expressed wishes or acts in their best interest: Her daughter served as medical proxy when she was in a coma.
Also called healthcare proxy or healthcare agent.
- power of attorneyLegal authority for another's decisions
- advance directiveDocumented future healthcare preferences
- living willPre-stated medical treatment preferences
- surrogateOne acting for another
- decision-makerOne with choosing power
incapacitated · DNR · do not resuscitate · life support · guardian · consent · hospital · hospital bed · appointed · legal · wishes · end-of-life · family · trusted · agent · authorization · advocate · paperwork
- End-of-Lifeadvance directive, DNR, do not resuscitate, hospice, life support
- patient rightspatient rights, informed consent, patient advocacy, patient advocate, advance directive
- advance directivesadvance directive, living will, durable power of attorney, DNR, do not resuscitate
- guardianship lawlegal guardian, legal guardianship, conservatorship, ward of court, mental capacity
- authorityleaders, ruler, rulers, monarch, bosses
- proxiessurrogate, stand-in, substitute, representative, delegate
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