Health care power of attorney, also known as a medical power of attorney, is a legal document that grants an individual the authority to make health care decisions on behalf of another person. There are several synonyms for this term, and they include health care proxy, health care surrogate, medical proxy, and medical surrogate. These terms are often used interchangeably in legal documents and discussions surrounding medical decision-making. The purpose of a health care power of attorney is to ensure that a person's medical wishes are respected and carried out, even if the person is unable to make decisions for themselves due to illness or injury.