ABA Family Legal Guide

The Rights of Older Americans

A Right to Control Your Own Affairs

Health-Care Decision-Making Issues

What is a durable power of attorney for health care?

A durable power of attorney for health care (sometimes called a health-care proxy) is a document that appoints someone of your choice to be your authorized agent (or attorney in fact or proxy) for purposes of health-care decisions. You can give your agent as much or as little authority as you wish to make some or all health-care decisions for you. And in most states, you can include the same kind of instructions that you would put in a living will.