Health Care Representative, Role and Duties
A health care representative is a person designated to communicate with health care providers and to make health care decisions on behalf of the principal. When acting, the health care representative's decisions are regarded with the same authority as those personally made by the principal.  Although the health care representative has this authority, he or she is required to make decisions in accordance with the principal's living will.

Just as with all other terms of the living will, the health care representative can only act after the living will becomes effective. Health care representatives do not have the authority to make any treatment decisions before this time.  It is also important to note that a health care representative does not have same powers that an agent has under a power of attorney.

See: Health Care Representative, Eligibility; Living Will, When Effective; Living Will, Who May Create