Can a friend be a healthcare proxy?

Can a friend be a healthcare proxy?

Under New York’s Health Care Proxy Law, any competent person can authorize another person (often a family member) to make health care decisions, if the patient becomes unable to do so.

Can a family member be a health care proxy?

If, for example, a family member holds a strong personal or religious belief that would prevent him or her from following the patient’s wishes, they should not serve as health care proxy. No matter how strong your opinion, that doesn’t make you an expert.

How does a health care proxy work in New York?

The New York Health Care Proxy Law allows you to appoint someone you trust — for example, a family member or close friend – to make health care decisions for you if you lose the ability to make decisions yourself. By appointing a health care agent, you can make sure that health care providers follow your wishes.

Can you change the name of a healthcare proxy?

Once you’ve filled out the form, give one to your doctor and one to the person named in your health care proxy, and keep one in your house. You can change the designated person at any time, just like you would change a will.

Can a healthcare proxy be used in a living will?

The healthcare proxy is just as useful for decisions to receive treatment as it is for decisions to stop treatment. If you complete a Healthcare Proxy form, but also have a living will, the living will provides instructions for your healthcare agent, and will guide his or her decisions.

Can a family member appoint a healthcare proxy?

A new law, called the New Your healthcare proxy law, allows you to appoint someone you trust – for example, a family member or close friend – to decide about treatment if you lose the ability to decide for yourself. You can appoint someone by signing a form called a Healthcare Proxy.

Can a living will be used as a health care proxy?

No. A living will is a document that provides specific instructions about health care decisions. You may put such instructions on your Health Care Proxy form. The Health Care Proxy allows you to choose someone you trust to make health care decisions on your behalf.

The New York Health Care Proxy Law allows you to appoint someone you trust — for example, a family member or close friend – to make health care decisions for you if you lose the ability to make decisions yourself. By appointing a health care agent, you can make sure that health care providers follow your wishes.

When to decline being a health care proxy?

If you identify with one or more of the following circumstances, you might want to respectfully decline the request if you’re ever asked to serve as someone’s Proxy. The choices made by a Health Care Proxy are seldom casual and almost always of the essence.

Does a MA health care proxy have to be notarized?

The person you appoint as your agent cannot serve as a witness. Note: You do not need to notarize your Massachusetts Health Care Proxy.

How much does a healthcare proxy cost?

The cost should range between $500 and $1,500 with a qualified estate attorney.

Can I make my own health care proxy?

You do not need a lawyer to create a health care proxy; just make sure the form is signed and witnessed according to the directions on the form. Give copies to your health care providers, health care proxy, spouse, and any close friends who you think might be involved in your care.

Are spouses automatically health care Proxies?

In many states your spouse may automatically be your legal proxy if you haven’t named someone else. Sometimes, they may find it too difficult to agree to ending treatment for their loved one, even when you have made your wishes very clear. In this case, it might be wiser to choose someone else.

Can a power of attorney and healthcare proxy be the same person?

Even if these documents are technically separate, you can still give the same person both sets of powers to make medical and financial decisions. However, you may prefer for your financial agent to be someone in whose money sense you trust and your health care proxy to be someone who shares the same values as you or who will at least honor yours.

Who is the financial agent for a health care proxy?

However, you may prefer for your financial agent to be someone in whose money sense you trust and your health care proxy to be someone who shares the same values as you or who will at least honor yours. Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this publication at the time it was written.

However, your healthcare proxy is required to follow the type of treatment plans that you prefer, assuming that he or she knows them. In many situations, a person uses a healthcare proxy in conjunction with a living will.

Even if these documents are technically separate, you can still give the same person both sets of powers to make medical and financial decisions. However, you may prefer for your financial agent to be someone in whose money sense you trust and your health care proxy to be someone who shares the same values as you or who will at least honor yours.

A living will is a document that provides specific instructions about health care decisions. You may put such instructions on your Health Care Proxy form. The Health Care Proxy allows you to choose someone you trust to make health care decisions on your behalf.

How old do you have to be to appoint a health care proxy?

All competent adults, 18 years of age or older, can appoint a health care agent by signing a form called a Health Care Proxy. You don’t need a lawyer or a notary, just two adult witnesses. Your agent cannot sign as a witness. You can use the form printed here, but you don’t have to use this form.