A 17-year-old unmarried female presents to the emergency department and says, "I am pregnant and I have a urinary tract infection.". There is no parent present. How should the nurse proceed regarding consent?
1. Assume consent because the patient came to the ED seeking help.
2. Assume consent is legal because the patient is pregnant.
3. Ask the patient to call her parents to give telephone consent.
4. Refer to the hospital policy and procedure manual about conditions of consent.
4
Rationale 1: It is generally assumed that a patient who presents to the ED is giving consent for treatment, but this patient is underage.
Rationale 2: Laws vary from state to state regarding pregnancy and the legal ability to give consent. The nurse is also assuming that the patient is in fact pregnant.
Rationale 3: This may be an option, but it is not clearly indicated. This is not the best answer.
Rationale 4: The hospital policy and procedure manual must address conditions of consent according to state law. The nurse should refer to this manual and document the thought processes leading to assuming consent.
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