Health Care Proxy Vs Living Will

Making the decision between a health care proxy and living will can be difficult. Both have their advantages and disadvantages, which is why it's important to understand the differences between the two.

In this personal finance guide, we will compare health care proxies and living wills, looking into what each option entails and what might be the best choice for you.

What is a Health Care Proxy?

A Health Care Proxy is a legal document that gives another person the authority to make decisions about your medical care if you are unable to do so yourself. This can include decisions about life-sustaining treatment, such as whether or not to resuscitate you if your heart stops beating.

What is a Living Will?

A living will is a written document that spells out the types of medical treatments you would or would not want to receive if you were unable to communicate your wishes. It can cover things like life support, artificial nutrition and hydration, pain management, and organ donation.

What is The Difference Between a Health Care Proxy and a Living Will?

The main difference between a health care proxy and a living will is that a health care proxy designates someone to make decisions on your behalf if you are unable to do so, while a living will outline your wishes for end-of-life care.

What Are The Different Types of Health Care Proxy?

There are two types of health care proxy:

Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care

The Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care is a legal document that gives someone else the authority to make decisions about your medical care if you are unable to do so yourself. This document can be used to appoint a health care agent, who will have the power to make decisions about your medical treatment, including decisions about life-sustaining treatment.

Appointment of a Health Care Surrogate

The Appointment of a Health Care Surrogate is a legal document that gives someone else the authority to make decisions about your medical care if you are unable to do so yourself. This document can be used to appoint a health care surrogate, who will have the power to make decisions about your medical treatment, including decisions about life-sustaining treatment.

The Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care is the more common type of health care proxy, but the Appointment of a Health Care Surrogate may be used in some states.

What Are The Different Types of Living Will?

A ‘living will’ is a legal document that sets out your wishes regarding medical treatment and life-sustaining interventions if you lose the capacity to make decisions for yourself in the future. The term ‘living will’ can actually refer to two different types of document:

Advance Directive

This type of living will sets out your wishes regarding specific medical interventions, such as whether you would want to be resuscitated or receive artificial nutrition and hydration if you were in a vegetative state.

Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care

This type of living will appoints a person (known as your ‘health care agent’) to make decisions on your behalf about all aspects of your medical care if you lose the capacity to make decisions for yourself.

What Are The Advantages of a Health Care Proxy?

There are a few advantages of having a health care proxy. First, if you become incapacitated, your health care proxy can make decisions on your behalf about your medical treatment. This means that they can consult with your doctors and make decisions about what course of treatment is best for you, based on your wishes.

Another advantage of having a health care proxy is that they can make decisions about your finances and property if you become incapacitated. This can be helpful if you have a large estate or complex financial situation. Your health care proxy can ensure that your bills are paid and your property is taken care of, according to your wishes.

Finally, having a health care proxy gives you peace of mind. Knowing that you have someone who can make decisions on your behalf if you become incapacitated can provide a great deal of comfort.

What Are The Advantages of a Living Will?

There are a few advantages to having a living will. First, it gives you the opportunity to spell out your wishes in regard to your medical care. This can be helpful if you have specific instructions that you want to be followed or if you have religious beliefs that you want to be taken into account.

Additionally, a living will can help to prevent disagreements among your family members about what you would want in a particular situation.

What Are The Disadvantages of a Health Care Proxy?

There are some potential disadvantages of using a health care proxy.

First, if you appoint someone as your health care proxy, they will have the authority to make decisions about your medical care, even if you are capable of making those decisions yourself. This can be problematic if you have different opinions than your proxy about what kind of medical treatment you should receive.

Additionally, if your health care proxy is unable to make decisions on your behalf for any reason, you may not have anyone else who is authorized to do so.

Finally, appointing a health care proxy does not automatically revoke any advance directives that you have previously made. If you have an advance directive in place and later appoint a health care proxy, you will need to make sure that your proxy is aware of the directive and can act in accordance with it.

What Are The Disadvantages of Living Will?

The disadvantages of living will are that it is often not updated and can become outdated, and does not take into account your current wishes. If you have a change of heart about any of your medical decisions, you will need to update your living will accordingly.

Additionally, a living will does not cover all possible scenarios and situations which may arise during medical treatment. For example, it may not cover what to do if you become pregnant or develop a terminal illness. As such, it is important to discuss your wishes with your health care proxy beforehand.

So, Which One Should You Use?

The answer to this question depends on your personal preferences and needs. If you want someone to make medical decisions on your behalf in the event that you are unable to do so, then a health care proxy is the best option for you. However, if you simply want to express your wishes regarding end-of-life care, then a living will is the better choice.

What Are Some Alternatives to Using a Health Care Proxy or a Living Will?

Some people may feel uncomfortable with the idea of giving someone else the power to make medical decisions on their behalf. If this is the case, there are a few other options to consider.

One option is to appoint a durable power of attorney for health care (DPOA-HC). This person would be responsible for making all medical decisions on your behalf in the event that you are unable to do so yourself.

Another option is to create a health care directive. This document allows you to specify your wishes regarding all aspects of your medical care, including end-of-life decisions.

No matter which option you choose, it is important to make sure that your loved ones are aware of your wishes and have a copy of your directive on hand in case they ever need to reference it.

What Are Some Tips For Using a Health Care Proxy?

There are a few key things to keep in mind when using a health care proxy:

Be sure to choose someone you trust implicitly. This person will be making decisions on your behalf, so it's important that you feel confident in their ability to do so.

Have a conversation with your chosen health care proxy about your wishes. It's important that they are aware of your preferences in regards to your health care, so that they can make decisions accordingly.

Keep your health care proxy updated. As your situation changes, be sure to update your proxy so that they are aware of any new information or changes in your wishes.

What Are Some Tips For Using a Living Will?

If you're interested in using a living will, there are some things you should keep in mind. First of all, it's important to be as specific as possible about your wishes. This way, there's no room for interpretation and your loved ones will know exactly what you want.

It's also a good idea to appoint a healthcare proxy. This is someone who will make decisions on your behalf if you're unable to do so yourself. Make sure to choose someone you trust and who knows your wishes.

Finally, keep your living will up to date. As your life changes, so too may your wishes. Be sure to review it regularly and update it as needed.