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Which would the nurse expect regarding the client's right to refuse treatment?

A.) Clients can refuse pharmacological but not psychological treatment.
B.) Clients can refuse any treatment at any time.
C.) Clients can refuse only electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).
D.) Clients can refuse treatment, but professionals can override this right when clients are a danger to themselves or others.

1 Answer

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Final answer:

A nurse would understand that clients generally have the right to refuse treatment, including psychological treatment, but that right can be overridden in situations where the client is a danger to themselves or others.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse would expect that a client has the right to refuse any treatment at any time, which includes a wide range of interventions such as blood pressure medication, classes of antipsychotics, psychotherapy, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), deep-brain stimulation, and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. However, there is an important exception to this right. Clients can refuse treatment, but healthcare professionals do have the authority to override this right when the client poses a danger to themselves or to others. This is to ensure the safety of the client as well as the public. Still, this is typically done within a legal framework that safeguards the client's rights as much as possible.

In the context of psychological treatment, ethical considerations often come into play, especially when balancing the individual's autonomy with the need to protect the welfare of others. For instance, a patient may refuse psychological intervention, but if they are in a state where they cannot make informed decisions or their condition poses a risk to themselves or others, health professionals may need to intervene for the patient's own protection or the safety of the community.

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