A Review of Basic Patient Rights in Psychiatric Care Related

Review A Review of Basic Patient Rights in Psychiatric Care related questions and content

You are on-scene with a 55-year-old cardiac history patient who suddenly collapsed during dinner with his family. He is found to be pulseless and apneic with his family performing adequate CPR on arrival. His wife is distraught and hands you a legal DNR order signed by his physician. She states that he does not have a terminal illness and begs you to ignore the legal order and 'do everything in your capabilities to save him!' Which of the following would be most appropriate in this situation?

  • A. Contact medical control, and open his airway while awaiting approval for resuscitation before initiating full resuscitation efforts
  • B. Take over CPR until you reach the ambulance, then stop all resuscitation efforts as per the legal order
  • C. Advise the family to stop CPR, and explain they cannot override the legal DNR order
  • D. Initiate full resuscitation efforts including advanced cardiac life support, and contact medical control
Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D: Initiate full resuscitation efforts including advanced cardiac life support, and contact medical control. In this scenario, the patient is found to be pulseless and apneic with CPR being performed by the family. The legal DNR order is not applicable in this situation as the patient does not have a terminal illness. Therefore, it is crucial to prioritize the patient's immediate need for resuscitation. Initiating full resuscitation efforts, including advanced cardiac life support, is necessary to maximize the chances of survival. Contacting medical control will ensure proper guidance and support during the resuscitation process.

Choices A, B, and C are incorrect:
A: Contacting medical control and waiting for approval before initiating full resuscitation could delay life-saving interventions.
B: Stopping all resuscitation efforts based on the legal DNR order without considering the patient's current condition would be inappropriate.
C: Advising the family to stop CPR and explaining the legal D