Designate a person to make health care decisions and access medical records by creating a health care proxy.

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You want to make sure you have a will with clear instructions, a health care proxy, and appropriate life and disability insurances.

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But having a living will and health care proxy is just the first step in having a proper financial and estate plan.

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The health care proxy is someone who is basically empowered to make these important medical decisions for you in the event of your incapacitation.

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Many families have a DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) order put on the patient record, and the health care proxy (usually a close relative) thinks that takes care of the problem.

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You also want to appoint a health care proxy.

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As attention shifts beyond immediate needs, one of the next steps for surviving spouses should be updating their own estate-planning documents, including their will, power of attorney and health-care proxy.

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Then in early 2005, one of BioMarin's largest shareholders, health care-focused money management fund OrbiMed Advisors, launched a proxy battle in which it requested three new board members.

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