Under the Patient Self-Determination Act, which policy obligation is essential for hospitals?

• A. Autonomy is not supported; policies do not document choices.
• B. Hospitals must provide information on advance directives and ensure respect for patient choices; policies support autonomy and documentation.
• C. The act requires only physicians to discuss directives.
• D. Hospitals must provide information on advance directives only, without ensuring respect for patient choices.

Answer: (B)

The essential idea is to uphold patient autonomy by making sure patients know about advance directives and that their stated wishes are honored in care. Under the Patient Self-Determination Act, hospitals must have a policy that requires staff to provide information about advance directives to patients on admission, to determine and document whether an advance directive exists and what it says in the medical record, and to follow those directives when delivering treatment, in line with state law. This dual focus on informing patients and integrating their choices into care demonstrates respect for autonomy and ensures documentation of those preferences. Statements that minimize autonomy, limit obligations to physicians, or require information without ensuring that patient choices guide treatment do not meet the act’s requirements. So the correct approach is for hospitals to provide information on advance directives and to ensure respect for patient choices through proper documentation.