Designate representative/confidant
You may always designate a trusted person to assist you in obtaining the information about your health status. If you wish, the confidant may inspect your patient file, or request a copy. The confidant can not make decisions regarding your illness and treatment on your behalf. A confidant can be anyone: a family member, a neighbour, a good friend, another doctor.
If you want, you can also appoint a legal representative. Your representative, if you are no longer able to make decisions about your health (e.g., if you fall into a coma), will exercise the patient's rights on your behalf, and thus make decisions about your health and treatment. If you do not appoint a representative, and you are no longer able to exercise your rights, then in substitute order your spouse/partner, your adult children, your parents or your adult sibling will act as representative.