If a patient has no advance directives and becomes incapacitated, who is typically appointed as healthcare surrogate first?

• A. Spouse
• B. Children of the patient
• C. Employer
• D. Friend

Answer: (B)

When there is no advance directive, a surrogate is chosen according to state law, starting with the person most likely to reflect the patient’s values and to act quickly: the spouse. The spouse is presumed to know the patient well and is legally empowered to make medical decisions and access information, making them the typical first surrogate. If there is no spouse, the next in line usually includes adult children, then other close relatives such as parents or siblings, with the exact order varying by jurisdiction. So, the first choice is the spouse, with adult children coming into play only if a spouse isn’t available or eligible to act.