What role does a surrogate play in a living will?

In the context of a living will, a surrogate, often referred to as a healthcare proxy or agent, is primarily responsible for making medical decisions on behalf of an individual if they become unable to communicate their wishes regarding their medical treatment. This role is crucial because living wills typically outline a person's preferences for medical care under specific circumstances, but they may not cover every situation that arises in practice. Therefore, the surrogate acts as the decision-maker to ensure that the individual's healthcare preferences are followed, providing guidance based on what they believe the individual would want in various scenarios.

The importance of the surrogate's role in facilitating healthcare decisions makes this choice the most relevant in the context of a living will. They are legally entrusted to ensure that healthcare providers respect and implement the patient's wishes, thus bridging the gap between the patient's desires and the realities of medical care decisions.