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What is the purpose of the Patient Self-Determination Act (PSDA)?

  1. Ensure proper nutrition for patients

  2. Prevent psychological abuse

  3. Protect health information

  4. To encourage people to make decisions about advance directives

The correct answer is: To encourage people to make decisions about advance directives

The Patient Self-Determination Act (PSDA) aims to encourage individuals to make informed decisions about their healthcare, particularly regarding advance directives. This legislative framework promotes the right of patients to express their wishes about medical treatment in the event that they become unable to communicate those wishes themselves. By ensuring that patients are provided with information about their rights and options for future healthcare decisions, the PSDA empowers them to take an active role in their own care. This focus on advance directives is vital as it helps healthcare providers and family members understand and respect the preferences of patients regarding life-sustaining treatments and other critical medical interventions. The PSDA emphasizes the importance of autonomy in healthcare, ensuring that individuals are aware of their rights to consent or refuse treatment and that their wishes are documented and honored. While the other options address important aspects of patient care, they do not pertain directly to the main focus of the PSDA, which is centered on patient autonomy and advance planning for medical decisions.