Question

A nurse is caring for a 15-year-old client who is married and is scheduled for a surgical procedure. The client asks, "Who should sign my surgical consent?" Which of the following responses should the nurse make?

A) "Your husband should sign the consent."
B) "Your parent or legal guardian should sign the consent."
C) "You should sign the consent because you are of legal age."
D) "Your healthcare proxy should sign the consent.

Answer 1

The nurse should inform the client that their parent or legal guardian should sign the consent.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse should inform the client that their parent or legal guardian should sign the consent. In most jurisdictions, individuals under the age of 18 are not considered legally competent to provide consent for medical procedures. Therefore, the client's parent or legal guardian would need to provide consent on their behalf.