Question

A 64-year-old woman accompanied by her husband comes to the emergency room seeking treatment for chest pain. The patient clearly tells you that she wants to have her aorta repaired and she signs consent for the procedure. She later becomes hypotensive and loses consciousness. Her husband is now the decision maker and says, "Let her die." What do you tell him?

A) Respect the patient's initial consent and proceed with treatment.
B) Follow the husband's wishes and withhold treatment.
C) Seek a second opinion from another doctor.
D) Consult with the hospital's ethics committee.

Answer 1

The appropriate action is to respect the patient's initial informed consent and proceed with treatment, despite the husband's subsequent request when she loses consciousness.

Step-by-step explanation:

In a scenario involving a 64-year-old woman who initially provided consent to have her aorta repaired, but later became hypotensive and unconscious, the action to take should align with respecting the patient's initial consent. When the patient gave informed consent, her wishes became clear, and those wishes should be respected even after she loses consciousness and decision-making capacity. The husband's declaration of "Let her die" can be emotionally driven, and may not reflect the previously expressed wishes of the patient. Therefore, the most appropriate action would be option A: Respect the patient's initial consent and proceed with treatment. If there is doubt or potential legal issues, consulting with the hospital's ethics committee could be an additional step. It is important to note that in complex situations like this, the values of autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and justice must all be considered to ensure that the patient's rights and welfare are upheld.