End-of-life care: What we can and should do better

Hospitals must have written policies on advance directives and the patient's desires with regard to life support and whether the patient wants to withhold, forgo, or withdraw life-sustaining services. Hospitals must also determine which of their outpatient settings will honor those advance directives. Additionally, hospitals are responsible for educating patients about advance directives and what the patient's options are regarding life support and other life-sustaining services. They must also educate the ­patient upon admission about the hospital's abilities and policies regarding advance directives.

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