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

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.

From Salon

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

From Salon

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.

From Slate

But with his former girlfriend out of the picture, Sumner Redstone last month designated his daughter as his healthcare proxy, giving her a much larger role in his affairs.

From Los Angeles Times

Herzer had unsuccessfully sued to reverse his decision to dump her as his healthcare proxy.

From Los Angeles Times