substituted judgment

Substituted judgment is a decision-making process used when a person, often due to incapacity, cannot express their own preferences. In such cases, caregivers or legal representatives try to make choices based on what they believe the individual would have wanted if they were able to decide for themselves. This approach aims to respect the person’s values and previously expressed wishes, ensuring that decisions align closely with their beliefs and desires, even if they cannot communicate them directly at that time. It's commonly applied in medical and legal contexts.