Karen G. Jackson, Esq.

With a health care proxy, you appoint an agent to speak to your health care professionals in the event you are unable to decide or communicate your instructions yourself. Your agent can be any adult of sound mind. Your agent need not be a family member. You want an agent who will not be intimidated by physicians and whom you trust to follow your wishes.

Without a health care proxy in place, time-consuming and expensive court processes may be involved. Having a health care proxy avoids having to go to court—ever.