2005 Articles

Three Stubborn Misconceptions About the Authority of Health Care Agents

Burke, Kathleen; Herb, Alice; Swidler, Robert N.

The authors address misconceptions about (1) a health care agent's authority access protected health information; (2) the level of proof of patient's wishes needed for an agent to authorize the withdrawal or withholding of life-sustaining treatment; and (3) the agent's ability to override a patient's prior decision.