What does a healthcare proxy do?

A healthcare proxy plays a crucial role in ensuring that a person's healthcare wishes are respected and followed when they are unable to communicate those wishes themselves due to incapacity, illness, or other reasons. This individual is designated through a legal document and is responsible for making medical decisions on behalf of the patient. Their decisions are guided by the individual’s previously expressed healthcare preferences and values, ensuring that the care provided aligns with what the individual would have wanted. This reinforces the importance of having a trusted advocate who is aware of the patient's values and preferences in medical situations.

Other options, such as managing financial assets or communicating about insurance matters, do not accurately describe the function of a healthcare proxy. These responsibilities typically fall under different roles, such as a financial power of attorney or a representative managing insurance, highlighting the specific and important function that a healthcare proxy provides in the context of medical decision-making.