Regional unrepresented patient advocacy committee as an alternative for decision making

Abstract

Acute care hospitals and extended care facilities across the United States care for patients who lack capacity to make medical decisions. When such patients are hospitalized and have no identifiable surrogate, their unrepresented status prompts questions about who should make decisions. This article explores using a regional state unrepresented patient advocacy committee as an alternative to appointment of a legal guardian or to using clinicians as decision makers.