Autonomy in health care refers to

• A. Physicians' authority overrides patient wishes
• B. Patients' right to participate in decisions about their own care
• C. Nurses deciding for patients
• D. Hospitals deciding without patient input

Answer: (B)

Autonomy in health care means honoring a patient’s right to participate in decisions about their own care and to make voluntary, informed choices about treatment. It rests on the patient’s capacity to understand options, weigh risks and benefits, and communicate a decision free from coercion. Healthcare professionals support autonomy by providing information and obtaining informed consent, but they do not override the patient’s choices. For example, a patient can accept or refuse a treatment based on their values, and that decision should be respected if capacity is present. If a patient lacks capacity, a legally authorized surrogate may decide in line with known wishes or best interests. The other situations describe decisions made by clinicians or institutions without patient input, which undermines autonomy.