What is a health care proxy?

A health care proxy is a legal document in North Carolina that allows an individual to appoint another person to make medical decisions on his/her behalf in the event that he/she is unable to do so. A health care proxy is similar to a Power of Attorney for Health Care, which enables the agent to make health care decisions for the individual if he/she becomes incapacitated. It is important to note that this does not give the agent the power to make financial decisions on the individual’s behalf, as that is the domain of a Power of Attorney. The individual who signs the health care proxy can generally specify any conditions or treatments that he/she would like to be followed, and the agent can make decisions in accordance with those. In most cases, the person appointed as the agent is someone that the individual trusts, such as a family member or close friend. A health care proxy is a valuable document to have, especially for those nearing retirement age, because it can ensure that the individual’s wishes will be followed if they are unable to make those decisions on their own. It can also provide individuals and their families peace of mind, knowing that they are well-prepared in the event of an emergency.

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What is a health care proxy?

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