Designating a health care surrogate is a crucial step when estate planning. Your chosen party will have access to your health information and make health care decisions on your behalf during incapacitation. You want to choose someone who can perform the sensitive duties of this role effectively.
Here are four factors to consider when choosing a suitable health care surrogate:
Trust
Trust is an essential quality in a health care surrogate. Choose someone whom you trust to have access to your medical records, to follow your wishes, even if they disagree with them, and to make other decisions in your best interest.
Familiarity
It helps to choose someone familiar with you – someone who understands your personality, values and preferences. This way, it can be easier for them to make decisions as you would have.
Assertiveness
Some of the decisions your surrogate will need to make will be tough, including life-prolonging procedures and end-of-life care decisions. And, at times, they may be required to make these decisions under pressure. Thus, consider choosing an assertive person.
Your chosen party should be able to communicate effectively with healthcare providers and loved ones, ask difficult questions and stand by your wishes/their decisions. So, look for someone who is always calm in a crisis, never shies away from asking questions, respects people, sets boundaries and is an effective communicator.
Proximity
Although not the most important factor, the proximity of a health care surrogate to you can make a difference. It can be better when a surrogate is physically present in the hospital within a short time, has face-to-face meetings with physicians and gives fast responses on site during emergencies.
Your health care surrogate will play a crucial role if you become incapacitated. Get more information about this role to make an informed decision.