The ED nurse is caring for an 11-year-old brought in by ambulance after having been hit by a car. The child's parents are thought to be en route to the hospital but have not yet arrived
No other family members are present and attempts to contact the parents have been unsuccessful. The child needs emergency surgery to save her life. How should the need for informed consent be addressed?
A) A social worker should temporarily sign the informed consent.
B) Consent should be obtained from the hospital's ethics committee.
C) Surgery should be done without informed consent.
D) Surgery should be delayed until the parents arrive.
Ans: C
Feedback:
In an emergency, it may be necessary for the surgeon to operate as a lifesaving measure without the patient's informed consent. However, every effort must be made to contact the patient's family. In such a situation, contact can be made by electronic means. In this scenario, the surgery is considered lifesaving, and the parents are on their way to the hospital and not available. A delay would be unacceptable. Neither a social worker nor a member of the ethics committee may sign.
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