What does a health care proxy provide?

A health care proxy is a legal document that designates a specific individual to make medical decisions on behalf of another person if they become unable to make those decisions themselves. By granting durable power of attorney, the individual appointed as the health care proxy is given the authority to act in medical situations, ensuring that their values and wishes concerning health care are respected. This legal arrangement allows the appointed person to communicate with healthcare providers, consent to or refuse treatments, and make crucial decisions regarding the individual's health care plan when they are unable to do so.

The other options focus on different aspects of medical care or emergency situations. An emergency contact for medical emergencies does not have decision-making power regarding the patient's health care; directives for medical treatment refer to specific instructions given by a patient about their care, rather than appointing someone to make those decisions; and insurance information is necessary for billing and coverage purposes but does not pertain to who can make medical decisions on behalf of the patient. Thus, the role of a health care proxy is specifically tied to durable power of attorney in the context of medical decision-making.