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

The Patient Self-Determination Act (PSDA) was prompted by the Nancy Cruzan case, which underscored the importance of patients' rights to make decisions about their medical care, particularly in situations involving life-sustaining treatment. In this case, Nancy Cruzan was in a persistent vegetative state following a car accident, and her family's efforts to remove her from life support led to a prolonged legal battle that highlighted the need for clear guidelines regarding patient autonomy and advance directives.

The Cruzan case brought to light crucial issues about the ability of individuals to express their wishes regarding end-of-life care and the necessity for healthcare providers to respect these wishes. Because of this case, there was a greater emphasis on the importance of documenting patients' healthcare choices and the need for healthcare facilities to inform patients of their rights to make decisions about their treatment.

This led to the enactment of the PSDA in 1990, which mandates that healthcare organizations inform patients about their rights under state law to make decisions about their medical care, including the right to create advance directives. The act encourages individuals to reflect on their preferences for medical treatment in advance, ensuring that their choices are honored even when they cannot communicate them.