What type of document allows someone to appoint another person to make health care decisions on their behalf?

The correct response identifies the durable power of attorney for health care as the document that specifically permits one individual to designate another person to make health care decisions on their behalf. This type of document is a legal instrument that grants authority to a designated individual, often referred to as an agent or proxy, to make medical decisions when the principal is unable to do so due to incapacity or other reasons.

This arrangement is particularly significant in situations where the individual may not be in a position to communicate their wishes regarding treatment, thereby ensuring that their health care preferences are honored by someone they trust. It focuses explicitly on health care decisions, which differentiates it from other related documents that may not confer the same powers.

In contrast, a living will generally outlines an individual's preferences for medical treatment in specific scenarios, but it does not appoint someone to make decisions on their behalf. An advance directive is an overarching term that encompasses documents like living wills and durable powers of attorney, but it does not specifically designate another individual for decision-making. A legal will pertains to the distribution of an individual's assets after their death and does not address health care decision-making during their lifetime.