Final answer:
True, a durable power of attorney for healthcare allows an appointed agent to make medical decisions on behalf of a patient according to the patient's advance directive or living will. This includes executing a health care proxy when the patient cannot make decisions themselves.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that a durable power of attorney (DPOA) is a legal document naming an agent to make medical decisions and execute instructions in the patient's advance directive is true. A DPOA enables an appointed individual, known as an 'agent' or 'attorney-in-fact', to make healthcare decisions for someone if they become incapacitated for any reason. This document remains in effect despite the principal's subsequent incapacity and allows the agent to access medical records, speak with healthcare providers, and make all necessary healthcare decisions according to the patient's wishes as outlined in an advance directive or living will.
An advance directive is a broader term that may include a living will, which specifies a person's healthcare preferences, such as whether to administer life-extending treatments or to include a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) Order. The living will can be enacted when the person is no longer able to make decisions on their own, and it often reflects the individual's cultural, religious, and personal values.
In addition, a health care proxy is a type of advance directive that designates another person to make medical decisions if the patient is unable to do so. The health care proxy and the DPOA often coincide as elements in a comprehensive plan for future healthcare decisions, ensuring that a trusted person can legally advocate for the patient's wishes.