healthcare proxy

Or health-care prox·y

[helth-kair prok-see]

noun

1. a legal document in which a person can appoint someone to make decisions for them about medical treatment in the event that they are no longer mentally competent or able to communicate.

Word History and Origins

Origin of healthcare proxy¹

First recorded in 1990–95

Example Sentences

You may wish to list your husband as your healthcare proxy to carry out those decisions.

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You suggested every adult have a power of attorney and healthcare proxy.

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I keep a folder — an actual file folder made of paper — with the contact information for my doctors, my healthcare proxy and do-not-resuscitate order, as well as the sign in information to access my medical portal, bank accounts and credit cards, in a secure space known to the rest of my family.

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This is where you need to have a healthcare proxy named as well, so someone can execute the medical decisions.

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We’re going to start to have to have some really hard conversations with their family members or their healthcare proxy, if they have one, about what to do next.

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