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A healthcare proxy is someone you designate to make decisions on your behalf if you are unable to do so. Here’s how to change your healthcare proxy.
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Introduction
A health care proxy tells your doctor what kind of medical treatment you want or don’t want if you become too sick to make decisions yourself. You can name anyone you trust as your health care proxy, as long as that person is at least 18 years old. You can change your health care proxy at any time.
Here’s how to change your health care proxy:
1. Get the forms. You’ll need to fill out two forms: a living will and a durable power of attorney for health care (or “health care proxy”). These are sometimes combined into one form.
You can find these forms online or at a stationery store. Make sure you get the forms from a reliable source, such as an official state website or a store that specializes in legal forms.
2. Fill out the forms. One form will name your new health care proxy, and the other will list your medical treatment preferences (such as whether you want life-sustaining treatment if you have a terminal illness).
Be sure to read the instructions carefully and fill out the forms completely and legibly. If you have any questions, ask an attorney or someone else familiar with these documents before you sign them.
3. Sign and date the forms. Be sure to sign and date both forms in front of a witness (someone who is not named as your health care proxy on either form).
The witness should also sign and date both forms. It’s a good idea to keep originals of these documents in a safe place, such as a locked file cabinet, and give copies to your health care proxy, alternate health care proxy, close family members, and your doctor(s).
What is a Health Care Proxy?
A health care proxy is a legal document that allows you to appoint someone to make medical decisions on your behalf if you are unable to do so yourself. This person is known as your “health care agent.”
You can appoint anyone you trust to be your health care agent, as long as they are over the age of 18 and are not your health care provider or an employee of your health care provider.
You do not need a lawyer to create a health care proxy, but it is a good idea to have one look it over before you sign it.
Why Would You Need to Change Your Health Care Proxy?
There are many reasons why you might need to change your health care proxy. Maybe your original given has moved out of state, or perhaps you no longer feel comfortable entrusting that person with such an important decision. Whatever the reason, it is relatively simple to change your health care proxy if you need to.
In order to change your health care proxy, you will first need to revoke the old one. This can be done by filling out a revocation form, which is typically available from your state’s health department or from an online legal service. Once you have completed and signed the revocation form, be sure to give copies to your old health care proxy and to anyone who might have a copy of your old advance directive, such as your doctor or attorney. You should also keep a copy for yourself.
After revoking your old health care proxy, you will need to appoint a new one. You can do this by filling out a new advance directive form and designate someone as your new health care proxy. As with the revocation form, be sure to give copies of the new form to your new Proxy, any relevant parties (such as your doctor), and keep one for yourself.
Who Can You Appoint as Your New Health Care Proxy?
You can appoint anyone you want as your new health care proxy, as long as that person is at least 18 years old and agrees to serve. You can name more than one person, but it’s generally a good idea to name a primary and an alternate proxy in case your first choice is unavailable when the time comes. You should also make sure that the person you choose is someone you trust to make decisions in accordance with your wishes.
How to Change Your Health Care Proxy
A health care proxy is a legal document that gives someone else the authority to make decisions about your health care if you are unable to do so yourself. You can appoint anyone you trust to be your proxy, as long as that person is at least 18 years old and willing to take on the responsibility.
You may need to change your health care proxy for a number of reasons. Maybe the person you originally chose is no longer available or able to make decisions on your behalf, or you may simply want to appoint someone else. Whatever the reason, it’s important to understand how to change your health care proxy so that your wishes are carried out.
Here are some steps to follow if you need to change your health care proxy:
1. Get a new health care proxy form from your doctor or another medical professional. You can also find forms online or at a stationery store.
2. Fill out the new form, including all the required information about you and your chosen proxy.
3. Give a copy of the form to your doctor and other medical professionals who are treating you, as well as any hospitals or clinics where you receive care. You should also give copies to your chosen proxy and any alternate proxies, if applicable.
4. Keep a copy of the form in a safe place so it can be easily accessed if needed in the future.
Changing your health care proxy is a simple process, but it’s important to make sure that everyone involved has a copy of the new form and knows about the change. That way, there will be no confusion about who is authorized to make decisions on your behalf if you are unable to do so yourself.
What if You Do Not Have a Health Care Proxy?
If you do not have a health care proxy, you can appoint one by signing a health care proxy form. You can find this form online or at your local health department. The person you appoint will be your healthcare agent and will make decisions on your behalf if you are unable to do so.
You can also appoint a health care proxy by including the following language in your advance directive: “I hereby designate [name of person] as my health care agent to make all healthcare decisions for me, including decisions about consenting to or refusing medical treatment, if I am unable to make such decisions myself.”
What if You Have a Living Will?
If you have a living will, you’ve already taken an important step in planning for your health care. A living will is a document that says how you want medical decisions to be made if you’re unable to speak for yourself. It can cover everything from life support to pain relief.
But what if your health care situation changes and you can no longer make decisions for yourself? That’s where a health care proxy comes in.
A health care proxy is someone you appoint to make medical decisions on your behalf if you’re unable to speak for yourself. You can name anyone you trust as your proxy, as long as they’re over 18 and not your doctor or nurse.
You don’t need a lawyer to appoint a health care proxy, but it’s a good idea to put it in writing. That way, there’s no question about who you’ve chosen and what authority they have. You can revoke or change your health care proxy at any time.
If you already have a living will, you may want to name the same person as your health care proxy. Or you may choose someone else, depending on your wishes and who you think would be best suited to make decisions for you.
Key Takeaways
-There are two primary types of health care proxies: durable and springing.
-A durable proxy is one that is in effect as soon as it is signed, while a springing proxy only becomes effective under certain circumstances (usually if the person becomes incapacitated).
-When changing a health care proxy, the first step is to revoke the old proxy. This can be done by simply destroying the old document or by writing a revocation letter.
-Once the old proxy has been revoked, a new proxy can be drawn up and signed. It’s important to make sure that the new document is properly witnessed and notarized.
Additional Resources
There are a few things to keep in mind when changing your health care proxy. First, you’ll need to revoke your old proxy using a signed and dated statement. You can do this by either destroying the old proxy or by completing and signing a new revocable form. You should then provide copies of the new proxy to your agent, any alternate agents, your doctor, and anyone else who might need them in the event of your incapacitation. It’s also a good idea to keep a copy for yourself.
Once you have a new proxy in place, be sure to review it regularly and update it as needed. You may want to appoint a new agent if your old one moves away or is otherwise unable to fulfill their duties. Additionally, you may need to make changes to reflect your current wishes regarding medical treatment. Be sure to keep your proxies up-to-date so that your wishes are carried out in the event of an emergency.
Conclusion
Now that you have chosen someone to be your health care proxy, you may be wondering how to change your mind. If you are ever in a position where you can no longer make your own decisions about your medical care, your health care proxy will be the one who makes those decisions for you.
Fortunately, changing your health care proxy is a relatively simple process. You can either revoke the previous health care proxy entirely or appoint a new one. To revoke the previous health care proxy, simply fill out a revocation form and send it to the person who currently holds that title. To appoint a new health care proxy, simply fill out a new appointment form and name the new individual as yourproxy.
