A client who is unconscious and has extensive internal injuries arrives via ambulance to the emergency department. The staff cannot reach the client's family. Which of the following permits the staff to proceed with emergency surgery?
Good Samaritan Act
Nonmaleficence
Living will
Implied consent
The Correct Answer is D
Choice A Reason:
Good Samaritan Act is incorrect. The Good Samaritan Act typically provides legal protection to individuals who provide assistance during emergency situations, but it does not specifically address consent for medical treatment. It protects individuals from liability when providing reasonable assistance in emergency situations.
Choice B Reason:
Nonmaleficence is incorrect. Nonmaleficence is an ethical principle that emphasizes the obligation to do no harm. While it guides healthcare professionals in prioritizing patient safety and well-being, it does not provide legal authority to proceed with medical treatment without consent.
Choice C Reason:
Living will is incorrect. A living will be a legal document that outlines an individual's preferences for medical treatment in the event that they are unable to communicate their wishes. However, if the client's living will does not specifically address the circumstances of emergency surgery, it may not apply in this situation.
Choice D Reason:
Implied consent is correct. Implied consent allows healthcare providers to proceed with necessary medical treatment when it is reasonable to assume that the patient would consent if they were able to do so. In emergency situations where a patient is unconscious or unable to provide consent, and efforts to reach family members are unsuccessful, healthcare providers may proceed with treatment based on the principle of implied consent to prevent further harm or loss of life.
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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A Reason:
The time the client received his last dose of pain medication is incorrect. While this information is relevant for ongoing pain management, it may not be as critical for the receiving facility unless there are specific pain management protocols in place that need to be followed.
Choice B Reason:
The client's preferred time for bathing is incorrect. While knowing the client's preferences is important for providing individualized care, the preferred time for bathing may not be immediately pertinent to the client's care upon transfer to the rehabilitation facility.
Choice C Reason:
The steps to follow when providing wound care is correct. This information is essential for the receiving facility to ensure proper wound care continues without interruption. It helps ensure consistency in care and minimizes the risk of complications related to wound healing.
Choice D Reason:
The belief that the client has a difficult relationship with his son is incorrect. While psychosocial information about the client is important for holistic care, it may not be the most crucial information to include in the change-of-shift report for transfer to a rehabilitation facility unless it directly impacts the client's medical care or rehabilitation plan.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice A Reason:
Whether the facility ethics committee reaches a consensus on the case is incorrect. While an ethics committee may provide guidance and recommendations, its decision alone typically does not determine whether a surgery will be performed. Ethics committees are advisory bodies and their decisions may not necessarily override the wishes of the patient or their legal representative.
Choice B Reason:
Whether the client's refusal is based on religious belief is incorrect. Religious beliefs may influence a patient's decision-making process, but they do not automatically determine whether a surgery will be performed. Healthcare decisions are generally based on medical factors, patient autonomy, and legal considerations rather than solely on religious beliefs.
Choice C Reason:
Whether the client understands the risk of refusing the procedure is incorrect. Patient autonomy and informed consent are essential principles in medical ethics. Understanding the risks and benefits of a medical procedure is important for informed decision-making. However, even if the client understands the risks of refusing the procedure, they still have the right to refuse treatment based on their personal preferences and values.
Choice D Reason:
Whether the partner is the client's durable power of attorney for health care is correct. A durable power of attorney for healthcare, also known as a healthcare proxy or surrogate decision-maker, is legally authorized to make medical decisions on behalf of the patient if the patient is unable to do so themselves. If the partner is designated as the client's durable power of attorney for healthcare, they have the legal authority to make decisions regarding the surgery, even if the client refuses. This is because the surrogate decision-maker is tasked with acting in the best interests of the patient when the patient cannot make decisions for themselves.
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