Question

A 15-year-old girl with anemia will be undergoing an exploratory procedure and a blood transfusion will be necessary. The parents are Jehovah's Witnesses and will not consent to a blood transfusion, but the patient states that she wants the transfusion. The operating room staff reports this to the nurse manager. Which of the following is the BEST course of action now?

A. The physician or nurse manager should contact the hospital's clergy to provide an intervention.
B. The operating room staff should inform the patient that her parents must give consent before she can receive the transfusion.
C. The operating room staff should inform the patient that since she is a minor, she cannot make health care decisions for herself.

D. The physician or nurse manager should contact the hospital's administration to request that legal counsel becomes involved.

Answer 1

The physician or nurse manager should contact the hospital's administration to involve legal counsel, since this case presents a complex legal and ethical conflict between a minor's healthcare decision and parental consent.

Correct option is D

Step-by-step explanation:

The best course of action for the 15-year-old girl with anemia facing a conflict between her desire for a blood transfusion and her parents' religious beliefs is for the physician or nurse manager to contact the hospital's administration to request that legal counsel becomes involved (Option D). This approach is essential due to the complex legal and ethical considerations involved when a minor's healthcare decisions are at odds with parental consent.

Legal counsel can navigate the situation, considering the rights of the minor, the parents, and the medical staff. This decision aligns with the priority of ensuring patient safety while respecting legal boundaries and ethical guidelines.