Which statement best describes end-of-life care decisions?

• A. Decisions about the design of hospital nutrition programs.
• B. Decisions regarding the care of patients who are nearing the end of life, often made by family or healthcare proxies.
• C. Decisions about the maintenance of hospital equipment.
• D. Decisions about the scheduling of staff shifts.

Answer: (B)

End-of-life care decisions focus on choosing appropriate medical care for patients who are nearing death and may not be able to express their wishes. In practice, families or designated healthcare proxies often make these decisions, ideally reflecting the patient’s values and preferences and prioritizing comfort, dignity, and quality of life. This description matches the concept of end-of-life decisions best. The other options relate to hospital administration or logistics—designing nutrition programs, maintaining equipment, or scheduling staff—and do not address patient-centered care decisions at the end of life.