Under a Power of Attorney, which in Massachusetts is known as a Health care Proxy, you name the person, known as your Agent, that you designate to make medical decisions for you when you cannot due to mental incapacity. The most common choices for the Agent are a close friend, relative(s) or your spouse. By law, your Agent can’t be anyone professionally involved in either the financial or medical side of providing your health care, unless he or she is blood related to you. It’s a good idea to name someone available locally as this form is common with the elderly when the agent is sometimes needed at a moments notice.
Another helpful document is the Advance Directive which includes the medical power of attorney form and a living will, which allows the principal to designate the exact end of life treatment options if they should become in a vegetative state.