Which aspect of the PSDA is critical for patient autonomy?

The Patient Self-Determination Act (PSDA) emphasizes the importance of patient autonomy by ensuring that patients are provided with information about their rights regarding their medical care. This includes the right to make informed decisions about their treatment options and to express their preferences about how they want to be treated, including the right to refuse treatment.

By informing patients about these rights, the PSDA empowers them to actively participate in their healthcare decisions and advocate for their own needs and values. This foundational principle of respecting patient autonomy embodies the shift in healthcare towards person-centered care, where individuals are encouraged to take an active role in their own health management.

Other options do not align with the intent of the PSDA. Leading treatment decisions strictly by providers undermines patient autonomy, as does the notion that only healthcare providers can make health decisions or that patients must solely comply with prescribed treatments without question. Autonomy is fundamentally about allowing patients to have a voice in their care.