If you became unable to make your own medical decisions tomorrow, would the right person have the legal authority to speak for you? For many New Yorkers, the answer is no — simply because they haven't executed a health care proxy. ## What Is a Health Care Proxy? A health care proxy is a legal document that allows you to appoint someone you trust — your "agent" — to make medical decisions on your behalf if you become unable to make them yourself. ## Why It Matters Without a health care proxy, your family may need to petition a court to be appointed as your guardian before they can make medical decisions for you. This process takes time — time that may not be available in a medical emergency. ## Choosing Your Agent Your health care agent should be someone who understands your values and wishes, and who you trust to advocate for you even under difficult circumstances. This is often a spouse, adult child, or close family member, but it doesn't have to be a relative. ## Pairing It with a Living Will Many people execute a health care proxy alongside a living will, which expresses your specific wishes about end-of-life care, to give your agent additional guidance. ## Don't Wait A health care proxy is one of the simplest and most important documents you can have in place. Contact the Law Offices of Tracy R. Field PLLC to get started.