Legal Question in Health Care Law in Massachusetts

Re: Health proxy

I notice that you have not had any responses to your question. First, I am sorry to hear that your father has been hospitalized.

Your father should absolutely execute a health care proxy. Most attorneys can do this for a simple flat fee - and if your father had no other estate planning documents, it would be absolutely crucial that you do so now.

To answer your question, in the event that your father is unable to make or communicate health care decisions on his own behalf, a doctor might consult with a spouse and then immediate family members, and most likely with his primary caretaker. It is a far better course of action to decide in advance who will shoulder this burden.