A 55-year-old woman with advanced metastatic breast cancer arrives at the emergency room with dyspnea and tachycardia. After evaluating the patient, the resident orders an echocardiography, which confirms the existence of a pericardial effusion. The surgical team is called in, and the surgical attending informs the patient that a pericardiocentesis is required. After receiving an urgent page, the attending surgeon instructs the resident to acquire informed permission for the treatment. Although the surgical resident has never seen or done a pericardiocentesis, he has recently read an article regarding malignant pericardial effusions. Which of the following is the best plan of action for the resident?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Eductional Objective: The attending physician administering the surgery should seek informed consent (IC), since he or she is most suited to describe the process and answer any queries. If IC is delegated to another physician in the care team, that provider must understand the technique well and be prepared to answer the patient's concerns.

A 55-Year-Old Woman with Advanced Metastatic Breast Cancer Arrives at the Emergency