What is the role of a healthcare advocate?

A healthcare advocate plays a vital role in supporting and promoting a patient's rights and preferences in their care. This includes ensuring that the patient's voice is heard in decision-making processes pertaining to their health and treatment. Advocates work to empower patients to understand their health conditions, options for treatment, and the potential benefits and risks related to different choices. They also assist in navigating the healthcare system, helping patients to communicate effectively with healthcare providers, and advocating for the resources and services that the patient needs.

The role of an advocate is centered on respecting the autonomy of the patient, ensuring that they are fully informed and able to make choices about their own healthcare. This contrasts with roles such as administering medications or performing medical procedures, which are responsibilities of healthcare professionals with appropriate training and credentials. Additionally, making medical decisions without patient consent directly contradicts the fundamental principles of patient autonomy and informed consent, which are crucial in healthcare.