What is a healthcare proxy for cancer patients?
August is National Make-A-Will Month, and in recognition of this important awareness month, Outcomes4Me is sharing related, helpful resources with our patient members.
Formalizing a “healthcare power of attorney,” also known as a healthcare proxy, is a crucial task and an important decision for everyone. A healthcare proxy is a person you designate to make medical decisions on your behalf if you can’t make those decisions on your own. This person should be somebody whom you trust who is aware of your healthcare wishes and preferences.
Everyone over the age of 18 should have a healthcare proxy, regardless of their health status. But, if you’re navigating a serious illness such as cancer, it becomes even more important to designate this important role now while you’re capable of making all medical decisions for yourself.
When you decide upon a healthcare proxy, make sure you find a time to connect with this trusted friend or loved one to discuss what matters most to you regarding your life and care goals. What type of treatment would you be willing to accept in the face of a serious illness, and what would you like to avoid?
Each state has different healthcare proxy legal forms and processes you must complete in order to record your healthcare proxy. You can request a healthcare proxy form from your care provider, or find online resources relevant to your specific state. Identifying a healthcare proxy is an important part of overall estate planning, so if you are also considering finalizing a will, then you will also need to designate your healthcare proxy. You will also need to complete a HIPAA authorization form so your care team can share specific details about your health with your proxy.
It can be difficult to know where to start–and it’s very easy to procrastinate around a topic that none of us want to consider: a time when we can’t fully advocate for ourselves. But, if we don’t designate a healthcare proxy, then if we’re ever in a situation where we can’t speak for ourselves, someone else will be assigned to do so. It’s important that you make this decision about the person you want making decisions about your health and care.
If you don’t have a local resource to support you, you can use an online resource such as Trust & Will, which offers a variety of estate planning services. To coincide with National Make-A-Will Month, Outcomes4Me is pleased to partner with Trust & Will to offer our members a 20% discount on estate planning services. Use this link to receive your 20% discount at checkout.
This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of these links and make a purchase, we may receive a commission.
