If a patient is unable to make medical decisions for themselves, the treatment team relies on a surrogate to assist with the process of consenting and other decisions until the patient can speak for themselves.
If the patient has not previously designated an individual to act on their behalf, the medical team follows the protocols laid out in the Illinois Health Care Surrogate Act.
Below is the order in which someone is designated a surrogate for health care in the absence of a written Power of Attorney:
The patient’s Guardian of the Person (court-appointed guardian)
The patient’s spouse
Any adult son or daughter of the patient
Either parent of the patient
Any adult brother or sister of the patient
Any adult grandchild of the patient
A close friend of the patient
The patient’s Guardian of the Estate
Once an individual is designated as a Health Care Surrogate, the medical team is available to help guide them with any decisions they may need to make while a patient is unable to do so. In these instances, we encourage surrogates to speak on behalf of the patient, or, to interpret for the medical team what the patient would say if they were in the room