Palliative care emphasizes autonomy by

• A. Respecting patient choices and providing information to support decisions.
• B. Denying patient information to reduce anxiety.
• C. Limiting options to only standard treatments.
• D. Making decisions without patient input.

Answer: (A)

Autonomy in palliative care means honoring the patient’s right to decide their own care, guided by clear information and discussions that help them align choices with their values and goals. Providing information about prognosis, options, benefits and risks, and likely outcomes empowers patients to weigh what matters most to them and to choose accordingly. Respecting patient choices means supporting their decisions, whether that involves continuing a treatment, focusing on comfort, or declining certain interventions. Denying information undermines autonomy because without understanding options, patients can’t make truly informed choices. Limiting options to standard treatments constrains what a person can decide, and making decisions without patient input disregards their preferences. In practice, clinicians facilitate goals of care, clarify options, ensure understanding, and document preferences to uphold the patient’s control over their care.