A Heartbreaking Reminder of Why Every Parent Needs to Be a Health Care Proxy for their Children
A recent article from NPR’s Here & Now (April 8, 2025) has once again brought to light the heartbreaking story of Baylie Grogan—a 19-year-old pre-med student whose tragic accident left her family powerless in a moment when she needed them most.
In 2018, Baylie was out with friends near the University of Miami when she became disoriented and frightened. After getting into an Uber with two young men, she was later seen wandering alone in the rain. She walked into highway traffic and was critically injured.
Her parents, Shawnee and Scott Baker, were on a sailing trip off the coast of Maine when they got the call. But when they arrived at the hospital, they were denied access to information about Baylie’s condition—including the nature of her injuries and surgeries—because she hadn’t named them as her health care proxies.
Baylie remained in a vegetative state for six weeks before passing away. Her parents were forced to battle hospital officials and ethics committees—who legally held the authority to make decisions for her—despite her family knowing her wishes and values.
In the Here & Now interview, Shawnee Baker reflects:
“The law was the law. I don’t blame the hospital… But my heart broke thinking of how many families wouldn’t be able to navigate the system the way we did.”
— WBUR’s Here & Now, April 8, 2025
Through Baylie’s Wish Foundation and her new book, “Baylie: A Life Shattered. A Promise Kept. A Secret Revealed,” Shawnee is urging families to take action before a crisis happens.
What Parents Need to Know
Once your child turns 18—even if they still live at home—you no longer have automatic rights to:
- Access medical records
- Speak with doctors in an emergency
- Make decisions if your child is unconscious or incapacitated
Without a health care power of attorney and HIPAA authorization, you may be legally shut out during your child’s most vulnerable moments.
How We Can Help
At Snyder Law, we help families gain peace of mind through our Young Adult Emergency Plan, which includes:
- Healthcare / Medical Power of Attorney
- HIPAA Authorization
- Financial Power of Attorney
- Educational Power of Attorney (“FERPA” authorization)
- Last Will & Testament
- Medical Emergency Card
Take Action Today
This recent article is a powerful and painful reminder: Don’t wait for a wake-up call.
Have the conversation. Put the documents in place. Be ready—because love alone isn’t always enough when the law gets involved.
Let us help you protect your adult child with clarity, compassion, and the right tools.
