p53
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A 30-year-old Hispanic woman presents to the emergency room with tachycardia and diaphoresis. She tells the examining physician that she took poison and refuses to disclose what type of poison she ingested. She says, 'If you're such a great doctor, why don't you figure out what I took. Otherwise, I don't mind dying'. Which of the following is the best initial management of this patient?
A. Admit the patient voluntarily only if she divulges the substance she ingested.
B. Admit the patient voluntarily regardless of the information she does or does not provide.
C. Admit the patient involuntarily and obtain toxicologic studies.
D. Discharge the patient immediately.
E. Summon law enforcement authorities to detain the patient.
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| ssrpk
Forum Fanatic
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C. Admit the patient involuntarily and obtain toxicologic studies.
an emergency situation, don't need no informed consent!
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| chemamr
Moderator and PGY1
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i agree with C
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| kingsofke
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It may be C but why in an emergency situation why no informed consent if the patient is competent to give or not to give one .
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| p53
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Correct answer is C. The patient isn't competent.
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| avt
Forum Newbie
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why is the patient not competent here?
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| sturge_weber
Forum Guru
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the patient is competent but u dont need the consent because she is a danger to her own life
so u can admit her involuntarily
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| avt
Forum Newbie
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ok..and she can sue you too (she is competent after all, and that is decided by the court NOt the dr).. so isn't E a better option? and incidently; if you CAN admit her "voluntarily" as in option B, why take her involuntary as in C and face a law suite? ...
i know i'm splitting hair, but humor me ..
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| sturge_weber
Forum Guru
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well that would be a good choice in the real life, but this is like therapeutic previlege where u can admit the partient, if she is threat to herself or to others, then she cant sue u
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| p53
Forum Guru
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Patient isn't competent if her behavior is dangerous to herself (as in this case) or others, so you don't need her consent and can admit her involuntarily.
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| ed222
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Patient is suicidal, incompetenet in her behavior demostrated in the interview, needs psychiatric evaluation, and she came to you or the hospital. You have the duty to treat her involuntarily, and the risk to be sued is more if you let her go.
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