Advance Directives

What kind of medical care would you want if you were too ill or hurt to express your wishes? Advance Directives are legal documents that allow you to convey your decisions about end-of-life care ahead of time. They provide a way for you to communicate your wishes to family, friends and health care professionals, and to avoid confusion later on.

Health Care Proxy

The New York Health Care Proxy Law allows you to appoint someone you trust – for example, a family member or close friend — to make health care decisions for you if you lose the ability to make decisions yourself. By appointing a health care agent, you can make sure that health care providers follow your wishes. Your agent can also decide how your wishes apply as your medical condition changes. Hospitals, doctors and other health care providers must follow your agent’s decisions as if they were your own. You may give the person you select as your health care agent as little or as much authority as you want. You may allow your agent to make all health care decisions or only certain ones. You may also give your agent instructions that he or she has to follow. The health proxy form can also be used to document your wishes or instructions with regard to organ and/or tissue donation.

Download and/or print the Health Care Proxy

Join In Program

Our Join In Program is an opportunity for you and your family to be a partner in your care and ask questions about your diagnosis, treatment or after care.

Learn more