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Step 1: Choose a Medical Decision Maker
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Who To Choose

The Role of a Medical Decision Maker

Father and daughter sitting together A medical decision maker can be a:

  • family member or friend

  • or, a group of people with ONE person who will speak to the medical providers for the group

If you are unable to make your own decisions, your decision maker may need to:

  • say yes or no to medical treatments for you

  • or, decide where you get medical care, such as a nursing home or hospital

Who Makes a Good Medical Decision Maker

A GOOD medical decision maker is a family member or friend who:

  • is 18 years of age or older

  • can talk to you about your wishes

  • Two women standing together

    can be there for you when you need them

  • you trust to follow your wishes and do what is best for you

  • you trust to know your medical information

  • is not afraid to ask doctors and your medical care team questions and speak up about your wishes

See How People Chose Their Medical Decision Maker

Some people are ready to choose a decision maker and some people are not. That is OK.

Click the video to see how other people chose their decision maker. Your situation may be different.

Time: 1:48
Video Transcript

Cynthia: My husband and I have been married for over 40 years, and we know each other really well. I can talk to him about my medical wishes and I know he’ll respect them even if they’re different from his.

Ken: I’m kind of a loner. I have been all my life. So I don’t have any friends or family that I trust to make medical decisions for me. I guess this could change, but for now, I think I will focus more on deciding what matters most in my life and thinking about my medical wishes so I can share that with my doctors. I’ll come back and choose a medical decision maker if it seems right for me in the future.

Jorge: We have a very big family, and we always make decisions together. I couldn’t ask just one person. So, I asked my sister and my nieces to work together to make decisions for me as a group. But, my family doesn’t always agree. Because my niece Vera lives the closest to me and knows me best, I asked her to be the spokesperson.

Helen: My husband died many years ago. We never had kids, and I don't have any family left I could ask to be a medical decision maker. But, my neighbor knows me very well. We keep an eye out for each other. Maybe I could ask her.

John: My oldest son will make all of my medical decisions. If I become very sick, it will be his job to talk to the doctors.

Next: Name Your Medical Decision Maker
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