A nurse is caring for a 16-year-old client who was in a motor-vehicle crash and needs surgical intervention immediately. The staff cannot reach either of the client's parents. The nurse should identify that which of the following is true about obtaining consent?
The surgeon can obtain informed consent from the client's adult cousin.
The surgeon should delay surgery until he can obtain informed consent from a parent.
The surgeon can proceed with the surgery by invoking implied consent.
The client's pediatrician can obtain implied consent.
The Correct Answer is C
A. "The surgeon can obtain informed consent from the client's adult cousin." Informed consent must be obtained from a parent or legal guardian for a minor. An adult cousin does not have the legal authority to provide consent unless they are the legal guardian of the minor, which is not indicated in this scenario.
B. "The surgeon should delay surgery until he can obtain informed consent from a parent." Delaying surgery in an emergency situation could endanger the client's life or health. In such cases, waiting for parental consent is not advisable, and other legal mechanisms, such as implied consent, should be used to proceed with necessary treatment.
C. "The surgeon can proceed with the surgery by invoking implied consent." In emergency situations where the client is a minor and the parents or legal guardians are not available to provide consent, the principle of implied consent allows healthcare providers to perform life-saving procedures without explicit consent. The law recognizes that in emergencies, delaying treatment to obtain consent could result in harm, so the surgeon can proceed with the surgery.
D. "The client's pediatrician can obtain implied consent." The concept of implied consent is not something that can be "obtained" by another healthcare provider. It is a legal principle that allows healthcare providers to act in the best interest of the client during an emergency when consent cannot be obtained. The pediatrician does not have a role in obtaining or invoking implied consent in this context; it is the responsibility of the surgeon performing the emergency procedure.
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Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A. Respect the daughter's decision to refuse the transfusion.Since the daughter has been designated as the durable power of attorney for health care, she has the legal authority to make medical decisions on behalf of her mother. The nurse should respect her decision, even if it involves refusing treatment.
B. Encourage the daughter to let her mother have the transfusion.While the nurse can provide information and support, they should not pressure or coerce the daughter into making a different decision.
C. Discuss taking guardianship of the client with the facility administration.This is unnecessary as the daughter already has the legal authority to make decisions through the durable power of attorney.
D. Ask the provider to give consent for the transfusion.The provider cannot override the decision made by the designated durable power of attorney unless there is evidence that the daughter is not acting in the client's best interest.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Fidelity: Fidelity refers to the concept of keeping promises and being faithful to commitments made to individuals. In this scenario, when the nurse states they will return as soon as possible with pain medication, they are making a commitment to the client and demonstrating fidelity by keeping that promise.
Justice: Justice pertains to fairness and the equitable distribution of resources. It is not directly related to the nurse's commitment to providing pain medication.
Autonomy: Autonomy involves respecting the individual's right to make decisions about their own care. While informing the client about the plan for pain medication is part of communication, the primary ethical principle being demonstrated here is fidelity.
Nonmaleficence: Nonmaleficence is the principle of doing no harm. While it is important in healthcare, the scenario described focuses more on the nurse's commitment to providing pain relief.
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