The nurse tells a patient, through speech and miming, that she will be giving an enema to the patient. The patient implies consent by nodding her head. The patient suffers rectal trauma and bleeding during the procedure. Is the nurse liable, and why?
A) The nurse is not liable because she explained the procedure and received the patient's consent.
B) The nurse is liable because she did not have written, procedure-specific consent from the patient.
C) The nurse is liable because she did not note the date and time of the consent.
D) The nurse is liable because she did not obtain informed consent.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The nurse is liable because she did not obtain informed consent. Informed consent requires that the patient fully understands the procedure, its risks, and alternatives, which was not adequately ensured in this scenario.

The Nurse Tells a Patient, Through Speech and Miming, That