Difference between a Health Care Power of Attorney (HCPOA) and an Emergency Contact

When a hospital or health care provider asks a patient who their emergency contact is, many patients incorrectly assume that their emergency contact is able to make medical decisions for them.  This is not the case as an emergency contact has no authority to make decisions on your behalf, even if you are unable to make the decisions yourself.  In order to designate a person who can make health care decisions for you a “health care surrogate” must be designated by the patient.  This person has the authority to make medical decisions on the patient’s behalf regardless of whether the surrogate is present at the hospital in the event of an emergency.

It is important to understand the distinction between a health care surrogate and an emergency contact so that in the event of an emergency or situation involving medical decisions you can be sure to notify doctors of both your emergency contact and surrogate.  A Health Care surrogate should be designated if you want a trusted individual to be able to make medical decisions on your behalf, including in the event of an emergency which leaves you unable to make these decisions yourself.  To set up a designation of health care surrogate, contact our office today at (941) 906-1231 to set up an appointment to speak with an experienced estate planning attorney.