What is a health care proxy?

A health care proxy is a legal document that is used in Washington to designate someone as a health care representative. This document gives the designated person (called an agent) the authority to make medical decisions for you if you are unable to make them for yourself. This document is especially important for those who have physical or mental disabilities that prevent them from making their own medical decisions. The health care representative you choose will be in charge of any medical decision-making if you become incapacitated, unable to communicate, or too ill to make decisions for yourself. This person can be anyone you trust, such as a family member or close friend. The health care proxy can also be a doctor, social worker, or nurse. The health care proxy document should also include detailed instructions about what type of medical treatment you would want in the event of a medical emergency. This could include instructions about things like resuscitation, life support, organ donation, and medical treatments. In Washington, the health care proxy document must be signed in front of two witnesses and must also be notarized. Once the health care proxy is in place, it will remain valid until you die or revoke it. It is important to remember to keep your health care proxy document up to date and to review it regularly to make sure it still reflects your wishes.

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What is a health care proxy?

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