See All PREPARE Questions, Your Answers, and Your Advance Directive
Why Choose a Medical Decision Maker
Because of accidents or illness:
3 out of 4 people will not be able to make some of their own medical decisions at some time in their life.
Doctors need to know who can make decisions for you.
A medical decision maker is someone who can make medical decisions for you ONLY if you are not able to make them yourself.
This person will be your advocate.
They may also be called a health care agent, representative, proxy, or surrogate.
They would ONLY make decisions for you if you are too sick to make your own decisions.
But, you can ask this person to start making decisions for you whenever you want, even now.
See Why Choosing a Decision Maker Ahead of Time Is Important
Click the video to see a story about a serious medical situation. Your situation may be different.
Time: 1:41
Video Transcript
Dr Garcia: Mrs. Jones, your husband is very sick. He has a serious lung infection, and he's not breathing well right now. So we're going to need to move him to the intensive care unit.
Cynthia: Intensive care unit?!
Dr Garcia: He's VERY sick. And because he's not able to talk right now, you are his legal decision maker.
Cynthia: He never told me what he wanted. We never discussed this.
1 month later...
Dr Garcia: I’m glad you’re feeling better, Mr. Jones. Your time in the hospital was difficult on ALL of us.
Cynthia: Especially me.
Dr Garcia: As doctors, we want to be sure to follow our patient’s wishes—but if they’re not able to tell us themselves, then we need to be able to talk with someone who really understands what they want, and can share it.
Cynthia: I was so upset that day I just couldn’t think!
Dr Garcia: That’s why it’s so important to discuss your wishes beforehand and to ask someone to be your medical decision maker.
Cynthia: James is a pretty independent person. I never make decisions for him. (pauses) I just didn’t know what he would want.
James Jones: You know, I always ASSUMED my wife would just know what I wanted. And that she would make the right decisions.
Cynthia: I wish we had talked about it. I mean, now that James has asked me to be his decision maker and we’ve started to talk about what is important to him, I feel so much better. More prepared. I know what James wants, and I know that I have his permission to make decisions for him.
James Jones: I feel better too. For her AND for me.
See Why Choosing a Decision Maker Can Help Your Family and Friends
Click the video to learn more
Time: 1:08
Video Transcript
Person 1: Mom, I need your help.
Person 2: Mom, can we talk?
Person 3: Don’t worry, it’s not money!
Person 1: I don’t need a car.
Person 2: I don’t need a babysitter again.
Person 1: I’m hoping you can help with something important.
Person 2: I don’t know what to do if you have a health emergency and can’t speak for yourself.
Person 1: What if you were at the end of your life?
Person 3: Have you thought about what kind of medical care you want?
Person 2: I want to be your advocate.
Person 4: I want to speak up for what you want.
Person 1: Talking about this would really help me.
Narrator: There is something you can do to help your kids: Prepare for Your Care. This free, easy-to-use website walks you through five steps that help you explore your wishes for your healthcare. It uses videos to show you how to talk to your family about these important questions. You can create a summary of your wishes and an Advance Directive. This legal document will make sure your doctors and your family follow your wishes and give you the care you want. Your loved ones will thank you for it.
Person 1: Thanks Mom.
Person 4: M Goi Momma.
Person 3: Thanks Dad.
Person 2: iGracias Mami!