Final answer:
The Substitute Decisions Act allows individuals to appoint someone as a health care proxy to make decisions on their behalf if they become incapacitated. These directives, such as living wills and DNR orders, ensure that their wishes regarding medical care and end-of-life decisions are respected, adhering to principles of autonomy and beneficence.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Substitute Decisions Act (SDA) enables an individual to appoint a specific person to make decisions about his/her personal care or treatment in the event that he/she becomes incapacitated. The person may also express his/her wishes about the kinds of decisions to be made or factors to consider in those decisions. This allows a person to have control over their health care decisions, respecting the principle of autonomy.
Many individuals make proactive quality-of-life decisions, such as living wills and medical power of attorney, to maintain some independence and ensure their wishes are followed if they become unable to make their own decisions. A health care proxy is one such legal document where a person names someone to make medical decisions on their behalf. The principle of autonomy is central to these decisions and asserts that patients have the right to self-determination in health care settings.
Advanced planning includes directives like Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) Orders, which state that medical personnel should not take steps to revive a patient if their heart stops. Together with hospice care, living wills, and the principle of beneficence, which promotes acting for others' good, these directives support the concept of dying with dignity and the management of end-of-life care based on the patient's desires.