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If the patient has a health care proxy, the health care agent named in the proxy makes decisions. If a patient does not have a health care proxy, a legal guardian (or the person highest in priority from the surrogate list, known as ?the surrogate?) makes decisions.

The Health Care Proxy Law lets you appoint a competent adult to make decisions about your medical treatment in the event you lose the ability to decide for yourself ? including decisions to remove or provide life-sustaining treatment. You can appoint a family member, a close friend, or anyone you choose.

A power of attorney is a legal document that allows someone else to act on your behalf. Powers of attorney (POA) can be helpful to older people and others who want to choose a trusted person to act on their behalf when they cannot.

This is very different from a health care proxy, which only goes into effect if you are unable to communicate your wishes for care. Everyone can benefit from a health care proxy and advanced directives, while DNRs are only for very elderly and/or frail patients for whom it wouldn't make sense to administer CPR.

Every competent adult shall have the right to appoint a health care agent by executing a health care proxy. The provision goes on to permit the appointment of an alternate agent, but does not speak of appointing multiple agents at the same time.

Advance directives are legal documents that provide instructions for medical care and only go into effect if you cannot communicate your own wishes. The two most common advance directives for health care are the living will and the durable power of attorney for health care.

Two witnesses must watch you sign your Health Care Proxy form and say that you appeared to sign willingly. Neither your agent nor your alternate agent can serve as a witness. You do not need to have the form notarized.