What aspect of patient care is emphasized by the Patient Self-Determination Act?

The Patient Self-Determination Act emphasizes the importance of patient rights to refuse treatment, along with ensuring that patients are informed about their rights regarding advance directives and decision-making about their own healthcare. This law requires healthcare providers to inform patients of their rights to make decisions about their medical care, including the right to accept or refuse treatment based on their personal values and preferences. This empowerment of patients to have a say in their treatment plans fosters autonomy and respects individual choices, particularly in sensitive situations such as end-of-life care.

Other aspects such as patient confidentiality, affordable health coverage, and healthcare accessibility do not fall under the primary focus of the Patient Self-Determination Act. While those topics are certainly important in the broader context of healthcare, they are not specifically addressed by this legislation, which is centered around empowering patients in their decision-making processes.