Question

An awake, alert client with impending pulmonary edema is brought to the emergency department. The client provides the nurse with a copy of a living will that states that "no invasive" medical procedures should be used to "keep her alive". The healthcare team is questioning whether the client should be intubated. WHich information should guid the team's decision?

A. The living will removes the obligation to the client in any medical decision making.
B. The client is awake and alter, which makes the living will irrelevant and nonbinding
C. Lifesaving measures do not have to be explained to the client because of the signed living will.
D. The family shoul dbe contacted to determine who has durable power of attorney for health care for the client.

Answer 1

The team's decision should be guided by the living will provided by the client and respect their wishes for medical interventions.

Step-by-step explanation:

The team's decision regarding whether to intubate the awake, alert client with impending pulmonary edema should be guided by the living will provided by the client. The living will is a legal document that details the client's wishes and desires for medical interventions. Therefore, the team should respect the client's wishes as stated in the living will.

Option A is incorrect because the living will does not remove the obligation to the client in medical decision making; it actually provides guidance for medical decisions. Option B is incorrect because the client's level of alertness does not make the living will irrelevant or nonbinding. Option C is incorrect because lifesaving measures should still be explained to the client, even with a signed living will.

Therefore, option D is the correct answer. The family should be contacted to determine who has durable power of attorney for health care for the client. This person would have the legal authority to make medical decisions on behalf of the client if the client is unable to do so themselves.