The advanced directive that designates someone to make medical decisions for another person in case of incapacity is called?

The advanced directive that designates someone to make medical decisions for another person in case of incapacity is called?

• A. Living Will
• B. Advance Directive
• C. HIPAA
• D. Durable Power of Attorney

Answer: (D)

When someone may lose the ability to make their own medical choices, the document that appoints a specific person to decide for them is a durable power of attorney for healthcare, often called a healthcare proxy. The key is that it designates a surrogate who can authorize or refuse treatments on the patient’s behalf and remains in effect during incapacity (that durability is what distinguishes it from some other powers of attorney). A living will, by contrast, lays out the patient’s own treatment preferences but does not name a decision-maker. An advance directive is a broad term that can include either or both an expressed set of wishes and a designation of a decision-maker. HIPAA relates to privacy of health information, not who makes medical decisions.

When someone may lose the ability to make their own medical choices, the document that appoints a specific person to decide for them is a durable power of attorney for healthcare, often called a healthcare proxy. The key is that it designates a surrogate who can authorize or refuse treatments on the patient’s behalf and remains in effect during incapacity (that durability is what distinguishes it from some other powers of attorney).

A living will, by contrast, lays out the patient’s own treatment preferences but does not name a decision-maker. An advance directive is a broad term that can include either or both an expressed set of wishes and a designation of a decision-maker. HIPAA relates to privacy of health information, not who makes medical decisions.