Self Determination In Health Care

Self-determination in health care implies the patient’s right to make decisions on the type of health care they wish to receive provided their decisions are within legal boundaries. The law requires that patients making such decisions are fit and competent to make rational decisions. Although patients cannot exercise the right to self-determination when they become incapacitated, they can pre determine the type of health care they wish to receive in case they become unfit or incompetent to make their own health care decisions. The patients can make their wishes known to others or the doctor through a living will or authorize someone else to make the decisions for them through a durable power of attorney. A living will sets out directions regarding