Which power makes healthcare decisions?

• A. Healthcare Proxies
• B. Durable Power of Attorney
• C. Medical Power of Attorney
• D. Living Will

Answer: (C)

Medical Power of Attorney is the document that designates someone to make healthcare decisions for you when you’re unable to communicate or consent yourself. It gives a chosen agent the legal authority to approve or refuse treatments, choose providers, and manage medical information on your behalf. If it’s written to be durable, that authority stays in effect even if you later become incapacitated. A living will, by contrast, spells out your preferences for care but doesn’t appoint someone to make decisions for you. A healthcare proxy is another term used in some places for the person who acts, but the power to decide medically comes from the medical power of attorney. A durable power of attorney that isn’t restricted to health care typically covers financial matters, not medical decisions.