What is the difference between a living will and a health care proxy?

• A. A living will designates a guardian to make decisions; a health care proxy outlines financial powers.
• B. A living will is a legal contract with the hospital; a health care proxy is a patient consent form.
• C. A living will appoints a physician to decide; a health care proxy appoints family members.
• D. A living will states treatment preferences; a health care proxy designates someone to make health decisions when the person lacks capacity.

Answer: (D)

The important idea here is how each document handles decision-making when you’re unable to speak for yourself. A living will states your treatment preferences for life-sustaining care in situations where you can’t communicate, such as whether you want resuscitation or certain aggressive interventions. It provides guidance about what you would or would not want, but it doesn’t appoint anyone to make decisions for you. A health care proxy, often a durable power of attorney for health care, designates a trusted person to make medical decisions on your behalf when you lack capacity. That surrogate can interpret your values and wishes across a range of medical situations and decide what should be done in real time. So, the living will focuses on your treatment choices, while the health care proxy ensures there is someone authorized to decide when you can’t.