Health Care Proxy

A Health Care Proxy is a simple, legal document that enables you to appoint a competent individual 18 year of age or older, whom you trust to make health care decisions on your behalf if you become unable to do so.

Adults in Massachusetts have the right to accept or refuse medical treatment, including life-sustaining treatment. This means that you have the right to request or consent to treatment, to refuse treatment before it has started, and to have treatment stopped once it has begun.

Sometimes due to illness or injury, people are unable to talk to a doctor and decide about treatment themselves. You may wish to plan in advance to make sure that your wishes will be followed if you become unable to decide for yourself. If you don’t plan ahead, family members or other people close to you may not be able to make decisions for you that follow your wishes.

Saints Medical Center encourages you to complete a Health Care Proxy Form. Appointing someone you trust to serve as your “proxy” or “agent” – the person who can decide about your treatment if you become unable to do so – is the best way to protect your treatment wishes and interests. There is no need to retain an attorney when completing the form.

The best time to complete a Health Care Proxy is before you become ill and when you are able to carefully consider your preferences. Massachusetts Health Care Proxy Forms are available at Saints Medical Center through the Case Management Department at 978-458-1411, ext. 4078.