What is the main purpose of the Patient Self-Determination Act?

• A. Protect patients' rights to self-determination at end of life
• B. Increase hospital profits
• C. Expand Medicare coverage
• D. Limit patient autonomy

Answer: (A)

The central idea is to protect a patient’s control over medical decisions, especially at the end of life, by ensuring they know their rights and can document their wishes through advance directives. The act requires health care facilities to inform patients about advance directives upon admission, to determine whether an advance directive exists, and to honor those directives in accordance with state laws. This framework also allows patients to name a surrogate decision-maker (such as a durable power of attorney for health care) and to specify limits on treatments, including life-sustaining care, if that is their wish. By embedding these protections into standard practice, care is aligned with the patient’s preferences rather than proceeding automatically with every possible intervention.

In short, it’s about preserving patient autonomy and ensuring that a person’s informed preferences guide medical care when they may not be able to speak for themselves. It is not about increasing profits, expanding Medicare, or restricting patient choices; it’s about guaranteeing informed choice and respecting those choices in the care setting.