Which document signed by a patient appoints a specific person to act as a proxy for the patient's medical treatment?

The medical power of attorney is the document that allows a patient to designate a specific person as a proxy to make medical decisions on their behalf. This is particularly important when the patient becomes unable to communicate their wishes or make decisions relating to their medical care. The appointed individual, often referred to as an agent or proxy, is empowered to make healthcare decisions in accordance with the patient's preferences and best interests.

A living will, on the other hand, is focused on outlining a person's wishes regarding medical treatment in situations where they are terminally ill or unable to express their preferences. A health care proxy is a similar concept, but it specifically refers to the person appointed to make decisions rather than the legal document itself. An advance directive encompasses both living wills and medical powers of attorney, serving as a broader term for documents that guide healthcare decisions based on a patient's wishes. However, it is the medical power of attorney that explicitly establishes the authority of a specific person to act on the patient's behalf.