Seniors
End of Life Concerns
Making Your Wishes Known
The New York Health Care Proxy Form
This important legal form is completely voluntary and does not require a lawyer to become effective. The Health Care Proxy Form allows you to appoint someone (an agent) you trust to decide about treatment if you lose the ability to decide for yourself. A copy of your health care proxy form should be given to the person you choose to be your agent, and to your doctor, family members and close friends you trust. You should also put a copy in your wallet and another one with your important papers. To change the person you have chosen, simply fill out a new Health Care Proxy Form. Otherwise the form will be valid indefinitely. However, if you choose a spouse and later become legally separated or divorced, the spouse's appointment is automatically cancelled.