What would happen if you got into a serious accident or had a debilitating illness that left you unable to communicate? To whom would you turn to make important health care decisions? Most people do not realize that the New York Health Care Proxy Law lets you appoint someone to make decisions about medical treatment in the event you can't decide for yourself - including decisions to remove or continue life-sustaining treatment.

Anyone, a family member or close friend, can act as your agent as long as you complete a health care proxy. Unless you limit your agent's authority, he or she can make any treatment decisions you could make. Your agent can agree that you should receive treatment, choose among different treatments and decide that treatments should not be provided, in accord with your wishes and interests.

Examples of some medical treatments for which you may wish to give instructions are listed below:

* Artificial respiration

* Artificial nutrition and hydration (food and water by feeding tube)

* Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)

* Anti-psychotic medication

* Electric shock therapy

* Antibiotics

* Psychosurgery

* Dialysis

* Transplantation

* Blood transfusions

* Abortion

* Sterilization

* Organ and tissue donation

You may wish to talk about other treatments. If your wishes or beliefs are unknown, your agent is legally allowed to act in your best interest.

Make sure you give a completed copy of the health care proxy to your agent, doctor and other family members or close friends. Keep a copy with your important papers. For additional information or to request a health care proxy form, call 222-0007.