What is surrogate decision-making and which standards guide it?

• A. It is a formal guardianship enforced by the state with no patient input.
• B. A substitute decision-maker bases decisions on the patient’s current preferences.
• C. Decisions are made by the healthcare team without patient input.
• D. A substitute decision-maker acts when the patient cannot decide; guided by substituted judgment and best interests standards, ideally informed by patient values.

Answer: (D)