Which law requires hospitals to provide written information to patients about their rights to make medical decisions and execute advance directives?

• A. Patient Self-Determination Act
• B. Uniform Health-Care Decisions Act
• C. Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
• D. Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act

Answer: (A)

This item centers on patient autonomy and how the law supports informed decisions about future medical care in facilities that receive federal funding. The law that requires hospitals to provide written information to patients about their rights to make medical decisions and to execute advance directives is the Patient Self-Determination Act. It obligates federally funded hospitals (and other covered facilities) to give patients information on their rights to accept or refuse treatment and to have or create advance directives such as living wills or durable powers of attorney for health care. It also requires the facility to document whether an patient has an advance directive and to educate staff about these options.

Other laws cover related areas but not this specific requirement. The Uniform Health-Care Decisions Act deals with surrogate decision-making when a patient lacks capacity, but it does not impose the written-information mandate. HIPAA governs privacy and the protection of health information. EMTALA focuses on emergency treatment and stabilization, not on informing patients about advance directives. Therefore, the law described is the Patient Self-Determination Act.