Which act addresses patient autonomy and advance directives in health care settings?

• A. Patient Self-Determination Act
• B. Patient's Bill of Rights
• C. Standards of care
• D. Scope of nursing practice

Answer: (A)

The main concept being tested is honoring patient autonomy and advance directives in health care settings. The Patient Self-Determination Act directly requires health care facilities that receive federal funds to inform patients of their right to participate in decisions about their care, and to facilitate the creation and documentation of advance directives such as living wills and durable power of attorney for health care. It also mandates that staff respect these directives and that patients’ preferences are documented and honored, with appropriate education provided to both staff and patients. This makes it the best answer because it specifically addresses both autonomy—patients’ right to make informed choices about their care—and the use of advance directives in the clinical setting.

Other options relate to patients’ rights or standards of care in a broader sense but do not address the legal framework for advance directives. A patient rights provision outlines general rights but not the mechanisms for creating or respecting advance directives. Standards of care define the expected level of clinical care but don’t focus on decision-making capacity or directive documentation. Scope of nursing practice describes what nurses are authorized to do, not patient-directed choices about future treatment or directives.