A 72-year-old patient with end-stage renal disease consistently refuses dialysis, stating she wants to "go home and be with my family." Her family is distraught and believes she is depressed. To determine if her refusal is valid, the physician's primary responsibility is to assess her:

✓ Correct Answer: Option B

Decisional capacity hinges on the patient's ability to understand relevant information, appreciate the medical situation and its consequences, reason through choices, and communicate a choice. While depression can affect capacity, direct assessment focuses on these core elements of understanding.