Under the PD Act, which practice should hospitals follow to support patient autonomy regarding directives?

Under the PD Act, which practice should hospitals follow to support patient autonomy regarding directives?

• A. Advance directives are optional and rarely used.
• B. Hospitals should avoid discussing advance directives to reduce distress.
• C. The hospital must provide information on advance directives, and ensure respect for patient choices; policies support autonomy and documentation.
• D. Only physicians are responsible for discussing advance directives with patients.

Answer: (C)

Patient autonomy is supported by actively informing patients about advance directives and ensuring their choices are respected. Under the PD Act, hospitals must provide information on advance directives, engage with patients about their options, and implement policies that uphold autonomy and document the expressed wishes in the patient’s record. This approach reflects a system-wide responsibility to honor patient preferences, not simply leaving it to individual physicians or avoiding discussions.

Patient autonomy is supported by actively informing patients about advance directives and ensuring their choices are respected. Under the PD Act, hospitals must provide information on advance directives, engage with patients about their options, and implement policies that uphold autonomy and document the expressed wishes in the patient’s record. This approach reflects a system-wide responsibility to honor patient preferences, not simply leaving it to individual physicians or avoiding discussions.