Glossary / Lexicon

Durable powers of attorney in health care matters refers to a form of advance directives through which an individual can authorize another individual to make decisions and take actions on his or her behalf under specific circumstances. Durable powers of attorney in health care matters applies , particularly to issues involving health care; continues in force until or unless revoked by its maker even when the individual who authorized it is no longer able to act as a competent decision maker. Durable powers of attorney in health care matters is sometimes called a "Health care proxy".