<Li> Facilities must inquire as to whether the patient already has an advance health care directive, and make note of this in their medical records . </Li> <Li> Facilities must provide education to their staff and affiliates about advance health care directives . </Li> <Li> Health care providers are not allowed to discriminately admit or treat patients based on whether or not they have an advance health care directive . </Li> <P> The purpose of the Patient Self - Determination Act was / is to inform patients of their rights regarding decisions toward their own medical care, and ensure that these rights are communicated by the health care provider . Specifically, the rights ensured are those of the patient to dictate their future care (by means such as living will or power of attorney), should they become incapacitated . </P>

The right of self determination is guaranteed by the ___ in the us constitution