A 70-year-old man with a history of dementia presents with his wife via emergency medical services for evaluation of fever. His work-up reveals a diagnosis of urosepsis with exacerbation of his underlying altered mental status, thereby rendering him incapable of making informed decisions. His condition is stabilized, including normalization of his vital signs and administration of his first dose of antibiotics via a peripheral intravenous catheter. He subsequently "loses" his peripheral access. Placement of a central venous line is advised. The patient had not established an advanced directive or power of attorney for health care prior to the diagnosis of dementia. is true regarding surrogate decision-making?