This document names another person and an alternate to make health care decisions for you in the event you are unable to make them for yourself. This document does not necessarily state what type of treatment you want to receive. You can allow your proxy (also known as an agent) to make all health care decisions or just certain ones. We would advise that ONE person be selected as the agent and one as the alternate. Picking multiple individuals and assigning them equal responsibility can lead to a problem in the future if they are not in agreement about decisions to be made. In NYS, unless your health care agent has reasonable knowledge about your wishes regarding artificial nutrition and hydration, he/she will not be allowed to withdraw or withhold these interventions.