What does patient autonomy mean?

• A. The right to be informed and to make decisions about one's own healthcare
• B. The physician's right to decide treatment
• C. The hospital's right to privacy
• D. The right to access others' records

Answer: (A)

Patient autonomy means individuals have control over decisions about their own healthcare. It requires that clinicians provide clear information about options, risks, benefits, and alternatives, and that the patient can voluntarily consent to or refuse treatment based on their own values and preferences. Capacity and free choice are essential, and autonomy is closely linked to informed consent and the protection of patient confidentiality. The other options miss the point: deciding for the patient, or focusing on the facility’s privacy or access to others' records, does not reflect the patient's right to self-determination in medical care.