Clermont | The Villages
< Go Back

Changes to Florida’s Designation of Health Care Surrogate Form

iv drip hospital health careFlorida’s Designation of Health Care Surrogate form has now been changed to provide more flexibility for family members to gain access to medical information to help their disabled or aging loved ones make important medical decisions without the requirement of incapacity.

Designating a Health Care Surrogate is an important part of estate planning for people of all ages. The Designation of Health Care Surrogate form allows individuals to designate who will help make medical decisions for them if they are unable to do so themselves.

House Bill 889 was recently passed, amending the current Designation of Health Care Surrogate forms. On October 1, 2015, the following changes will go into effect:

  • The principle can designate whether his or her Health Care Surrogate can make medical decisions without the determination of incapacity, or only make medical decisions if the principle is determined to be incapacitated; and
  • The principle can choose whether the Health Care Surrogate can receive health information immediately upon execution of the Designation of Health Care Surrogate

Additionally, House Bill 889 created a new Designation of Health Care Surrogate for Minors form that can be used to designate a Health Care Surrogate to make medical decisions for a minor child if the parent, legal guardian, or legal custodian of the child is unable to make the medical decision themselves.

If you would like to update or execute your Designation of Health Care Surrogate or execute a Designation of Health Care Surrogate for Minor for your child, please contact our office at 352-775-4739 or 855-LAW-2020. BCN Law Firm has offices in Clermont, The Villages, Winter Park, and Lakeland.

BCN: “Know Your Attorney. Know Your Options”