Which document designates a person to make medical decisions for someone else?

• A. Durable Power of Attorney
• B. Ethical Dilemma
• C. Incident Report
• D. Pulmonary Edema

Answer: (A)

A durable power of attorney for healthcare is the document that designates a specific person to make medical decisions for someone else when they can’t communicate or consent themselves. It names a surrogate who can decide on treatments, advocate for the patient’s wishes, and guide care in line with what the patient would want. The term durable means the authority stays in effect even if the patient later becomes incapacitated, ensuring decisions aren’t halted by loss of capacity. This differs from a living will, which outlines preferences for treatment, and from other items like an ethical dilemma, an incident report, or a medical condition, which do not appoint a decision-maker.