CHESS

Ethics Glossary

Surrogate

A person with decisional capacity who makes decisions on behalf of a patient who does not have decisional capacity.  If a patient lacks decisional capacity, an appropriate surrogate (usually but not necessarily a close family member) should assist in the decision-making (1) ideally/preferably by representing the patient’s known values and goals or (2) if such are not known, then by promoting the patient’s best interests.