An older client is treated in the emergency department for soft-tissue injuries that the medical team suspects might be caused by physical abuse. An adult child states that the client is forgetful and confused and falls all the time. A mini-mental examination indicates that the client is oriented to person, place, and time, and the client does not comment when asked directly how the bruises and abrasions occurred. What is the next appropriate nursing action?
1. Interview the client without the presence of family members.
2. Report the abuse to the appropriate state agency for investigation.
3. Accept the adult child's explanation until more data can be collected.
4. Refer the client's clinical record to the hospital ethics committee for review.