What is one of the choices a healthcare surrogate can make?

A healthcare surrogate primarily acts on behalf of a patient to make medical decisions when the patient is unable to do so. One of the key responsibilities of a healthcare surrogate is to make decisions regarding life-sustaining treatments, which includes any medical intervention that would prolong life in a critical situation. This could encompass the decision to continue or withdraw treatment such as assisted breathing or feeding tubes, depending on the patient's wishes and medical condition.

The role of a healthcare surrogate is guided by the patient’s expressed wishes and preferences, which may have been outlined in advance directives or through conversations with the surrogate. This means that the surrogate must consider the patient's values and goals of care when making those critical decisions.

The other available choices reflect responsibilities that exceed the scope of a healthcare surrogate's authority or delve into areas that are not typically under their purview. For instance, selecting financial beneficiaries or altering a patient’s living arrangements is outside the medical decision-making role specified for a surrogate. Additionally, the authority to overrule a doctor’s decisions without consent is not appropriate, as healthcare surrogates are expected to collaborate with medical professionals in guiding patient care.