A Designation of Health Care Surrogate is a legal document where you appoint a trusted person (your “surrogate”) to make medical decisions for you if you become unable to communicate or decide for yourself, ensuring your healthcare wishes are followed by authorizing them to talk to doctors, consent to treatment, and manage your care when you’re incapacitated. This document is crucial for ensuring your personal medical preferences for things like life support, surgeries, or pain management are honored, and it works alongside other directives like a living will, according to state laws like Florida’s Chapter 765. 

Key aspects of a Health Care Surrogate designation:

Who it appoints: A trusted individual (not usually an entity) you select, often with alternates, who can advocate for you.

When it takes effect: Only when your doctor determines you can’t make your own health care decisions.

What it does: Authorizes your surrogate to access records (with a HIPAA release), consent to/refuse treatments, and make real-time decisions.

How it’s different: It’s specific to medical choices, unlike a general Power of Attorney for finances.

How to create it: Through a specific legal form, with requirements for witnesses and sometimes notarization that vary by state.

Revocation: You can change or revoke it anytime you have capacity, through writing, destruction of the document, or verbal intent (though writing is best).

Why it’s important:

Ensures your voice is heard if you can’t speak for yourself, especially in emergencies.

Prevents family disputes by legally designating one person.

Allows for detailed instructions on your care, covering everything from CPR to palliative care.