12-13-2009, 12:33 AM
If wife refuses to consent for emergency lifesaving treatment for unconscious husband citing religious grounds, should we treat or not?
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Ethics qq - drtense
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12-13-2009, 12:50 AM
It actually depends on what type of treatment is she against, most probably against blood transfusion so then you would have to give other BV expanders like plasma etc to prevent further blood loss and to raise his BV.
You shud find an alternative that does not offend their religious views and is effective treatment.
12-13-2009, 01:00 AM
bec the pt are unconscious and we cant obtain a written document from him we often refers to the first kin and the first kin in a married person is his spouse so if if these life saving measures against their religious beliefs we must respect them
12-13-2009, 01:12 AM
Here you have to treat as the wife cannot refuse it as they might not share the same religious belief and its an emergency situaltion so u use best interest and go ahead unless the wife has an advance directive or a written declaration from patient or the power of attorney to act on his behalf incase he looses consciousness u have to treat
12-13-2009, 01:59 AM
According to kaplan page 207, it says we have to treat the patient, but I rememeber a uworld question testing the same concept in which the answer is to not treat the patient. Same goes reg treatment of pregnant teens(
12-13-2009, 03:34 AM
i think spouse can take decisions on behalf of each others but not for kids.....esp here when no other document/close person is mentioned...
12-13-2009, 06:09 AM
dont treat husband if wife says that husband ans she share those religious beliefs. you have to assume pt's wife is telling the truth. in life-threatening circumstances, for kids, u must go ahead with whatever treatment is necessary, but yeah, if u can use plasma expanders instead of blood products directly, do that.
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