Florida Healthcare Surrogates Attorneys Focus on Clients’ Interests

North Central Florida Lawyers Familiar With Complex Healthcare Surrogate Issues

A healthcare surrogate is an adult who is appointed to make healthcare decisions for a person who is unable to make them for himself. The main difference between a medical power of attorney and a healthcare surrogate is that the person himself appoints a medical power of attorney, while an attending physician determines if a healthcare surrogate is necessary, and makes the selection.

Appointing a Healthcare Surrogate

Before a healthcare surrogate will be appointed, two things must occur:

• The principal must be unable to make healthcare decisions for himself, and
• The attending physician must have determined that a medical power of attorney and a court-appointed guardian have not been appointed.

When determining the need for a healthcare surrogate, doctors will evaluate a patient’s ability to:

• Understand the information the doctor is providing and the consequences of any choices the patient makes
• Make an informed choice based upon the available alternatives
• Communicate that choice clearly, in an unambiguous manner

If the doctor decides that there is a need to appoint a healthcare surrogate, he must first consider the following individuals:

• The patient’s spouse
• Adult children
• Parents
• Adult siblings
• Adult grandchildren
• Close friends

If no one in the above categories can be located, the attending physician is free to consider any other person or entity, including public agencies, public guardians, public officials, and corporations.

If you need information about healthcare surrogates and how they might affect healthcare decisions, Dean & Dean, LLP can offer guidance. Our firm focuses on helping people throughout Marion, Sumter, Citrus, and Lake counties with their legal needs. Contact us online or call (352) 515-9221 to schedule an initial consultation with one of our attorneys today.