Reggie is a white male, 72 years old, who lives alone. You have seen him for three weeks when he begins to talk about how he misses his wife, how he wishes she were here, or that he could sometimes join her in heaven. Given Reggie's statement, your ethical obligation is to:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

While all of the options seem like valid options to pursue, your ethical obligation lies with assessing for suicide. This is especially true given Reggie's demographic. He is 72, white, male and lives alone. When taken in comparison to the general population, Reggie is much more likely to be at risk given his presentation. Assessment is critical before he leaves your office.

Reggie Is a White Male, 72 Years Old, Who Lives