Which statement defines durable power of attorney in medical decision making?

• A. A living will
• B. A do-not-resuscitate order
• C. A medical record
• D. A document that designates someone to make medical decisions when the patient cannot

Answer: (D)

Durable power of attorney in medical decision making is a legal document that names someone you trust to make health care decisions for you if you become unable to do so yourself. The key idea is that “durable” means the authority continues even when you lose decision-making capacity, ensuring a chosen surrogate can guide or make medical choices, ideally in line with your preferences and values or your previously stated wishes. This arrangement helps prevent delays and uncertainty about who decides and how decisions are made when you can’t speak for yourself, and it supports care that reflects your goals, not just the clinician’s judgment.

A living will is about stating your specific treatment preferences in certain situations, not about appointing a decision-maker. A do-not-resuscitate order is a specific directive about whether to perform CPR, not a general grant of decision-making authority. A medical record is simply documentation of your health information, not a mechanism to designate who decides for you.