February has been celebrated as American Heart Month since 1963 to urge Americans to join the fight against heart disease, which is the leading cause of death for both men and women. It is also a great opportunity to consider who is the best person to act as your medical agent if you are stricken by a heart attack (or develop any other ailment) and are unable to make your own decisions about your health care or can’t communicate your wishes.
What Is a Medical Agent?
Depending upon the state in which you live, a medical agent could also be known as an agent under an advance health care directive (also called a living will), an agent under a medical or health care power of attorney, a health care surrogate, a health care proxy, a medical proxy, or a variety of other names. (In California, we general