Definition: The purpose of this 1990 federal act is to assure that individuals receiving health care services will be given an opportunity to participate in and direct health care decisions affecting themselves. Under this act, hospitals, health care agencies, and health maintenance organizations are responsible for developing patient information for distribution. The information must include patients' rights, advance directives, living wills, ethics committees' consultation and education functions, limited medical treatment (support/comfort care only), mental health treatment, resuscitation, restraints, surrogate decision making and transfer of care. (from JCAHO, Lexicon, 1994)
add UNITED STATES (NIM) CATALOG: use NAF entry
See AlsoAdvance Directives
Other names United States Patient Self Determination Act; Self-Determination Act, Patient; Public Law 101 508; Patient Self Determination Act; PL101 508; PL 101 508; Law 101-508, Public; 101-508, Public Law; PL101-508; PL 101-508; United States Patient Self-Determination Act; Public Law 101-508; PSDA