Default Options Influence End-Of-Life-Care Preferences

Source: Health Affairs, February 4, 2013 A new study comparing different types of advanced directives conducted by Scott Halpern finds that while most seriously ill patients prefer comfort-oriented care, the default option that was checked on their advance directive dramatically influenced their choice. Halpern comments that this finding makes sense because patients can’t be expected to have deep-seated preferences about choices that are rarely encountered and difficult to contemplate.