Question

To what extent is the hospital required to involve the patient's family in decisions about the patient's care, treatment, and services?

A. To the extent authorized by the licensed independent practitioner responsible for managing the patient's care, treatment, and services in the hospital, in accordance with law and regulation

B. To the extent authorized by the patient's own physician, who must be promptly notified of the patient's admission to the hospital

C. To the extent permitted by the patient or surrogate decision-maker, in accordance with law and regulation

Answer 1

The hospital is required to involve the patient's family in the patient's care decisions to the extent permitted by the patient or surrogate decision-maker, respecting the patient's autonomy and legal documents such as a health care proxy or living will, while ensuring compliance with laws and regulations.

Step-by-step explanation:

The extent to which a hospital is required to involve the patient's family in decisions about the patient's care, treatment, and services depends primarily on the patient's preferences and legal rights to autonomy. According to the principle of autonomy, a patient has the right to make decisions regarding their own health care.

Therefore, family involvement is typically to the extent permitted by the patient or their designated surrogate decision-maker, in line with legal and regulatory frameworks. If the patient is unable to make decisions and has not appointed a proxy, the hospital may turn to the family for decisions in the patient's best interest according to the principle of beneficence. However, all actions must be in compliance with laws safeguarding patient privacy and consent.

In cases where legal documents like a health care proxy or living will are present, the instructions provided in these documents guide the extent of family involvement. The instructions in a health care proxy specifically appoint a person to make decisions if the patient is unable to do so. Similarly, hospice services support the end-of-life care preferences as outlined by the patient, aiming for comfort and dignity. It is essential that hospital policies balance treatment costs, patient quality of life, and privacy risks while respecting both the rights and wishes of the patient.