Designating a Health Care Surrogate in Florida

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A health care surrogate designation is a written document, a statement about how you would want medical decisions made should you not be able to make them yourself. It may designate another person to make decisions for you, if you are no longer able to do so.

There is no legal requirement to complete health care surrogate designation or an advance directive. However, if you have not made one, decisions about your health care could be made for you by a court appointed guardian, your legal spouse, adult child, parent, adult sibling or close friend.

The person making decisions for you may or may not be aware of your wishes. When you discuss your advance directive with your family and close friends, it will better assure that your wishes will be carried out.