Question

Select any of the following factors that would indicate that a patient would be unable to use autonomy to make a decision. Checl all that apply

refusing to follow a doctor’s orders


laying unconscious, with no advance directive on file

falling under the legal age of consent

suffering from mental condition

displaying a rude and insulting personality

having a record of committing crimes in the past

Answer 1

• laying unconscious, with no advance directive on file
• falling under the legal age of consent
• suffering from mental condition

Step-by-step explanation:

Often sick individuals need to make delicate but necessary decisions in their medical treatment. Allowing the patient to make their own decisions is called autonomy and it is important that this autonomy is respected by the medical team, as the treatments can greatly interfere in a patient's life. However, there are situations in which the patient is unable to make conscious decisions about medical interference with their bodies and their lives.

A patient is unable to exercise his autonomy when he is unconscious and has not left any advance directive on file, he is of legal age for consent and when he is suffering from a mental condition that interferes with his logical reasoning.