Which designation is specifically defined as having authority only under certain conditions?

Which designation is specifically defined as having authority only under certain conditions?

• A. Primary proxy
• B. Secondary proxy
• C. Limited proxy
• D. General proxy

Answer: (C)

This question is about how the authority of a surrogate decision-maker is defined. A limited proxy is someone who has authority only for specific situations or decisions, not for everything the patient might need. For example, a limited proxy might be empowered to decide about life-sustaining treatment only if the patient cannot communicate, or to approve a particular medical procedure, leaving other decisions to others. This conditional or restricted scope is what sets a limited proxy apart from broader proxies. In contrast, a general proxy would have broad authority to make many kinds of decisions whenever the patient lacks capacity, and primary versus secondary refer to the order of who acts, not the breadth of their power. The phrase “authority only under certain conditions” fits the limited proxy description precisely, so that designation is the best match.

This question is about how the authority of a surrogate decision-maker is defined. A limited proxy is someone who has authority only for specific situations or decisions, not for everything the patient might need. For example, a limited proxy might be empowered to decide about life-sustaining treatment only if the patient cannot communicate, or to approve a particular medical procedure, leaving other decisions to others. This conditional or restricted scope is what sets a limited proxy apart from broader proxies.

In contrast, a general proxy would have broad authority to make many kinds of decisions whenever the patient lacks capacity, and primary versus secondary refer to the order of who acts, not the breadth of their power. The phrase “authority only under certain conditions” fits the limited proxy description precisely, so that designation is the best match.