PSDA prohibits discrimination against individuals who have advance directives.

• A. PSDA prohibits discrimination against individuals who have advance directives
• B. It does not prohibit discrimination
• C. Discrimination is allowed
• D. It applies only to emergency rooms

Answer: (C)

The key idea tested is that the Patient Self-Determination Act protects patient autonomy by preventing discrimination based on the presence of an advance directive. Under PSDA, healthcare facilities and providers cannot treat someone differently, deny care, or condition treatment simply because the patient has an advance directive or wants to discuss one. The act requires facilities to give information about advance directives, to document whether a patient has one, and to honor valid directives, without bias or penalty. It applies across covered settings (such as hospitals, nursing facilities, home health, and other Medicare/Medicaid–participating entities), not just emergency rooms. So the correct understanding is that discrimination is prohibited, not allowed, and the scope is broader than just ERs.