Which of the following designates another person to make medical decisions on your behalf?

• A. Living will
• B. Healthcare POA
• C. DNR order
• D. Medical directive

Answer: (B)

A healthcare power of attorney designates another person to make medical decisions for you. This legal document names a trusted individual as your healthcare proxy who can consent to treatments, choose among options, and advocate for your wishes if you’re unable to speak for yourself. It’s different from a living will, which states what kinds of care you do or don’t want, and from a DNR order, which tells clinicians not to perform resuscitation. A medical directive is a broad term that often refers to advance directives but does not appoint a decision-maker. Having a healthcare POA helps ensure your medical decisions are guided by your preferences even when you can’t communicate them yourself.