Question

Alina Ruiz, 20, is a college student in the care of an EMR. She has just regained consciousness after a generalized seizure, and she tells the EMR that she often has seizures and feels fine now. She refuses further care. In response, the EMR should:

MCQ Options:
a. Force her to accept treatment
b. Call the police
c. Respect her wishes and provide information for follow-up care
d. Transport her to the hospital against her will

Answer 1

The EMR should respect Alina's wish to refuse further care, inform her of potential risks and the importance of follow-up care, and not to force treatment or involve law enforcement, provided she's competent to make an informed decision.

Step-by-step explanation:

If Alina Ruiz, a 20-year-old college student, has regained consciousness after a generalized seizure and refuses further care despite being in the care of an Emergency Medical Responder (EMR), the EMR should respect her wishes and provide information for follow-up care. This is in line with respecting patients' autonomy, particularly when they are competent to make their own decisions. Health care providers are encouraged to make sure that patients are provided with information on risks, benefits, and alternatives to the proposed care, even if they refuse the treatment. As long as the patient has the capacity to make an informed decision and is not in immediate danger, the EMR should not force treatment or transport the patient against their will, nor should they involve law enforcement unnecessarily. The best course of action for the EMR is to ensure that Alina is aware of the importance of follow-up care, possibly with her regular health care provider who is familiar with her medical history of seizures.