Question

A nurse in an emergency department is caring for a client who is unconscious and requires emergency medical procedures. The nurse in unable to locate members of the client's family to obtain consent. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

a) Proceed with the emergency procedures without obtaining consent.
b) Wait until family members can be located before initiating any procedures.
c) Obtain consent from another healthcare provider on duty.
d) Seek consent from the legal guardian.

Answer 1

In an emergency where a client is unconscious, a nurse should proceed with necessary emergency medical procedures without obtaining consent, relying on the concept of implied consent in critical situations.

Step-by-step explanation:

If a nurse in an emergency department is caring for a client who is unconscious and requires emergency medical procedures but is unable to locate any family members for consent, the nurse should proceed with the emergency procedures without obtaining consent. This action is justified under the concept of implied consent, which applies in emergency situations where immediate medical attention is necessary to preserve life or prevent significant harm, and the patient is unable to provide consent due to their condition. The legal principle assumes that a rational person would wish for emergency medical treatment in such a critical situation.

It is important to note that seeking consent from another healthcare provider on duty is not a substitute for actual patient consent and is generally not appropriate in these circumstances. The priority in emergency cases where the patient is incapacitated is to provide the necessary care promptly. Legal guardians are relevant in situations where the patient is a minor or otherwise legally incompetent, and in non-emergency circumstances where consent is legally required.