Patient self-determination act. Implications for long-term care

The Patient Self-Determination Act requires providers to give all new nursing facility residents information about right-to-die and other treatment options under state law. Most patients expect family members to make key decisions, or believe it is the physician's responsibility. Simply handing out material is unlikely to have any impact on the number of patients completing advance directives. Even with advance care directives in place, such end-of-life desires are often not carried out.