Health Care Proxy

Under New York Law, an individual may appoint someone he/she trust, for example, a family member or close friend, to decide about medical treatment if he/she loses the ability to decide for him/herself. This can be done by using a health care proxy in which the health care agent, person appointed, can make sure that health care providers follow his/her wishes. The agent can also decide how his/he wishes apply as his/her medical conditions change. Hospitals, nursing homes, doctors and other health care professionals must follow the agent’s decisions as if they were the patients’. An individual can give the health care agent as little or as much authority as he/she wants. He/she can allow the agent to decide about all health care or only certain treatments.