What does substituted judgment rely on when making medical care decisions for a patient?

Substituted judgment is a concept used in medical decision-making that involves making choices on behalf of a patient who may no longer be able to express their preferences or values due to illness or incapacity. The correct answer focuses on the known preferences of the patient because this method emphasizes understanding and respecting what the patient would have wanted based on their previous statements, choices, and values.

When healthcare providers or surrogates rely on substituted judgment, they seek to discern and uphold the patient’s wishes as closely as possible, thereby honoring their autonomy even when they can't vocalize their decisions. This approach is particularly important in situations where patients have previously articulated specific desires regarding their care or treatment preferences.

In contrast, relying on intuition, advice from uninvolved family members, or clinical guidelines does not align with the substituted judgment standard, as these options might not accurately reflect the patient’s individual values and preferences. The essence of substituted judgment is to center the decision-making process around the patient's known wishes, which helps ensure that the choices made are in line with the individual’s beliefs and desires regarding their health care.