It’s human nature not to want to plan ahead for things we’d prefer to avoid, like illness or death. Yet, 42% of Americans have a friend or relative the suffer from a terminal illness.
There might just be a time when you need someone to step in and take care of your health care decisions. But, fail to plan for such events, and you may not receive the same decisions you would have made for yourself.
Nobody wants that.
What Is a Health Care Surrogate?
A health care surrogate gives you the opportunity to name someone you trust to make your health care decisions for you, should you not be able to do so. It also gives you the opportunity to outline what type of medical treatments you would or would not want to receive in certain cases.
The person you choose as a health care agent doesn’t have to live in the same state but should be someone who can travel to where you are.
A health care surrogate is responsible for making healthcare decisions on your behalf, so it needs to be someone who is reliable and who you trust to carry out your wishes.
A person who takes on the health care surrogate role is, essentially, responsible for carrying out your living will and wishes.
What if someone asks you to be their health care surrogate?
Here’s what you need to know.
When Is a Health Care Surrogate Appointed?
There are two things that must happen before a surrogate is appointed.
Firstly, your loved one must be unable to make healthcare decisions for themselves.
Next, his or her attending physician must determine that a medical power of attorney was not appointed and that there is no court-appointed guardian.
Making Important Health Care Decisions
To make medical care decisions for a loved one may seem daunting. That’s why it’s important to learn about their medical condition, medical history, and treatment options. You should be able to communicate their needs with their medical team and the rest of the family.
Your surrogate duties start when your loved one can no longer make their own health care decisions. Some decisions you may have to make on their behalf include:
- Where medical treatment is to be received, such as a hospice or hospital
- Where to decline or pursue medical tests, surgery, treatment, life-support or medications
- Where to apply for assistance programs and insurance benefits on their behalf
- Where to advocate for their wishes or take legal action
Getting Ready to Care for Your Loved One
It’s never too early to prepare for your health care surrogate role. Much of your preparation involves learning about your loved one’s values and beliefs, their health, and their end-of-life care preferences.
These may seem like uncomfortable conversations to have, but they need to be had. If your loved one is willing to discuss how they would like to be treated in different scenarios, such as an infection or coma, it’s also a good idea to include this in your conversations.
If your loved one has a living will, you will need to know about it.
Becoming a Health Care Surrogate
Once your surrogacy comes into effect, try to visit the place where he or she is being treated as soon as you can to learn about your loved one’s condition and treatment options.
When you have a good understanding of the condition and different treatment options, then you can start to consider the best choices in line with your loved one’s wishes.
As an appointed health care surrogate, you can make decisions on your own. But, it’s always a good idea to talk to other family members when it comes to treatment options and maintaining family togetherness in a stressful time.
Be Ready When You Are Needed
Having the right open conversations at the right time and being prepared can go a long way to helping you be the best health care guardian you can be. By discussing your loved one’s wishes in advance and understanding your role, you’ll be prepared to speak on their behalf at a time when you are really needed.
Contact the Principal Law Firm today for assistance with living wills, elderly care laws, and estate planning matters.
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