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Healthcare proxy

Power of attorney statutes have existed in the United States since the days of " common law " (i.e., laws brought from England to the United States during the colonial period). These early powers of attorney allowed an individual to name someone to act in their stead. Drawing upon these laws, "durable powers of attorney for health care" and "healthcare proxy appointment" documents were created and codified in law, allowing an individual to appoint someone to make healthcare decisions in their behalf if they should ever be rendered incapable of making their wishes known. People will normally benefit from having both a durable power of attorney and a healthcare proxy.