Certified Hospice and Palliative Assistant (CHPNA) Practice Test

What prompted the passage of the Patient Self-Determination Act (PSDA)?

1. The implementation of advanced medical technologies

2. The need for healthcare professionals to decide for patients

3. The Nancy Cruzan case

4. The rise of hospice care in the U.S.

The correct answer is: The Nancy Cruzan case

The passage of the Patient Self-Determination Act (PSDA) was significantly driven by the Nancy Cruzan case, which brought national attention to the issues of patient autonomy and the right to make decisions regarding one’s own health care. In this high-profile legal case, Nancy Cruzan was in a persistent vegetative state, and her family sought to withdraw life-sustaining treatment. The difficulties they faced in making that decision underscored the importance of having advance directives and the need for clear guidelines to ensure that patients’ wishes regarding their medical care are respected. As a result of the increased awareness surrounding this case and other similar situations, the PSDA was enacted in 1990. The law requires healthcare facilities to inform patients of their rights to make decisions about their own medical care and to document those wishes, emphasizing the significance of patient autonomy. This act reflects a broader societal movement toward recognizing individuals’ rights to determine their own treatment options, particularly in end-of-life situations. The other options do not directly relate to the specific impetus behind the PSDA. While advanced medical technologies and the rise of hospice care have influenced healthcare practices, they were not the core reasons for the enactment of the PSDA. Additionally, the notion that healthcare professionals should