Question

You arrive on scene with your patner Emilio to find a woman who is having problems breathing. She is speaking in 1 or 2 word bursts and is on oxygen at 3 liters per minute. There is an ashtray next to her bed loaded with cigarette butts. She says her caretaker called the ambulance and she does not want you there. She says she will allow you to to take her vitals but then you have to leave. Her BP is 100/60 her pulse is 48 and her respirations are 18. She says she is 89 years old and has a pacemaker and is on high blood pressure medication. "I just want to be old, please leave," she says. What should you do?

A. Transport her to the ER. Her vitals dictate that you must

B. Tell the care giver to quit calling and giving false alarms

C. Respect her wishes and leave, asking her to please call if she needs medical attention

D. Prepare to bag her and transport when she eventually passes out

Answer 1

The best course of action would be to explain the concerns about the woman's vitals and the potential risks she may face and ask her to call if she needs medical attention, respecting her decision and leaving as she desired.

Step-by-step explanation:

In this scenario, the woman is experiencing difficulty breathing and has low blood pressure, a slow pulse, and normal respirations. Considering her age, pacemaker, and high blood pressure medication, her vitals may be a sign of distress. Option A, transporting her to the ER, seems appropriate. However, it is crucial to respect the patient's wishes and autonomy. Therefore, the best course of action would be to explain the concerns about her vitals and the potential risks she may face and ask her to call if she needs medical attention, respecting her decision and leaving as she desired (Option C).