In Florida, an Advance Health Care Directive is used to name someone else to make medical decisions for you if you are unable to make those medical decisions for yourself. In other states, these documents may be called a Health Care Proxy or Health Care Power of Attorney.
The Health Care directive can be an important tool in advance planning even if you already have a Living Will. The Health Care Directive will allow your designated agent to make medical decisions for you even if you are not dying. The Living Will states your wishes about artificial life support only when your doctors have determined that there is no hope of recovery.
A Living Will does not require that you name an agent. You are making the decision at the time you sign the document.