Choosing a PA Healthcare Agent
By Sean Quinlan, Esq. · Updated January 15, 2025
Naming a healthcare agent under 20 Pa.C.S. Chapter 54 is the most important decision in an advance directive. The legal rules are simple; the personal calculus is not.
Who can serve
Any adult who is not your attending physician or healthcare facility staff. A spouse, adult child, sibling, friend, or trusted advisor.
Who shouldn't serve
A person who cannot make hard decisions under stress, who lives far away with no plan for travel, or who disagrees fundamentally with your end-of-life wishes.
Have the conversation
An agent who has never discussed your wishes is no better than no agent. Walk through scenarios before signing.
This article is general information about Pennsylvania law as of the update date above. It is not legal advice for your situation and does not create an attorney-client relationship. For advice on your specific facts, please schedule a consultation.
Talk with a Pennsylvania estate planning attorney.
Most plans take two meetings. The first is a consultation — clear, honest, and free of pressure.