Difficulty: Medium
Average Score: 64%
Simulated
Passage / Scenario
A client who is unconscious and has extensive internal injuries arrives via ambulance to the emergency department. The staff cannot reach the client's family.Which of the following permits the staff to proceed with emergency surgery?
Correct answer
B
Rationale
The correct answer is B: Implied consent. Implied consent allows medical staff to proceed with emergency surgery when the patient is unconscious or unable to give explicit consent. It is based on the assumption that a reasonable person would consent to life-saving treatment in such situations. The Good Samaritan Act (A) protects individuals who provide emergency assistance outside of a medical setting. Living will (C) specifies a person's preferences for medical treatment but does not apply in emergency situations. Nonmaleficence (D) is the principle of doing no harm but does not provide consent for surgery.