Health Care & End-of-Life Decisions
Legal Tools for Medical Decisions
✔ Health Care Proxy: If your ward previously named a health care agent, that person makes medical decisions.
✔ Living Will: Provides end-of-life care instructions.
Approving or Denying Medical Procedures
✔ Ask these questions before consenting:
• What happens if nothing is done?
• What are the risks?
• Are there alternative treatments?
DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) Orders
✔ You may be asked to approve a DNR.
✔ Doctors will only sign it if no further treatment will help.
Family Health Care Decision Act (NY State)
✔ Allows guardians to make end-of-life decisions if no living will or proxy exists.
✔ You CANNOT “pull the plug” freely – strict conditions must be met.