NY FAMILY HEALTH CARE DECISIONS ACT

When there is a lack of advance planning and health directives, New York's Family Health Care Decisions Act (FHCDA)[1] establishes the authority of a patient's family member or close friend to make health care decisions for the patient in cases where the patient lacks decisional capacity and did not leave prior instructions or appoint a health care agent. This "surrogate" decisionmaker would also be empowered to direct the withdrawal or withholding of life-sustaining treatment when standards set forth in the statute are satisfied.

For more information, visit the Family Health Care Decisions Act Information Center