09-15-2007, 07:00 AM
An 88-year-old male complaining of abdominal pain enters the emergency room with his wife. A mini-mental
status exam reveals pronounced forgetfulness and confusion. The patient is discovered to have acute
appendicitis requiring immediate surgery. He is unable to understand the situation and cannot provide informed
consent. Which of the following further actions must the physician take?
A. Do not perform surgery
B. Have another doctor confirm the necessity of surgery
C. Obtain a court order to perform surgery
D. Obtain consent from his wife to perform surgery
E. Try to persuade the patient to consent to surgery
status exam reveals pronounced forgetfulness and confusion. The patient is discovered to have acute
appendicitis requiring immediate surgery. He is unable to understand the situation and cannot provide informed
consent. Which of the following further actions must the physician take?
A. Do not perform surgery
B. Have another doctor confirm the necessity of surgery
C. Obtain a court order to perform surgery
D. Obtain consent from his wife to perform surgery
E. Try to persuade the patient to consent to surgery