What is a health care surrogate?

A health care surrogate is a legal document that allows a person to designate a trusted individual to make medical decisions on their behalf in the event that they are unable to do so themselves. The individual designated as the health care surrogate has the authority to make decisions regarding medical treatments, surgeries, and other decisions around their health and medical care. In the state of Washington, the health care surrogate document is called an "Advance Directive for Health Care". It is a legally binding document that requires a person to appoint someone to act as their health care surrogate and outlines the duties and responsibilities of the surrogate. It is important to note that the person accepting the responsibility for being a health care surrogate must be 18 years or older, competent, and willing to serve in this capacity. The purpose of the advance directive is to ensure that the wishes of the person who appointed the health care surrogate are followed if they become unable to communicate their wishes directly to their health care providers. The document allows a person to state their preferences for medical care in the event that they are incapacitated, such as requests to withhold or withdraw life-sustaining treatment. It is highly recommended that all adults have a health care surrogate document in place to ensure that their wishes are followed in the event of injury or illness.

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