A patient, admitted with a grave head injury, does not have an advance directive. The patient is unmarried and does not have living parents. With whom should the health care provider discuss the patient's ongoing care?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

If a person is unable to make decisions regarding his or her health care, the physician will ask the family about the patient's continuing care needs. The order of selection would be the spouse, adult children or grandchildren, parents, grandparents or adult brothers and sisters, and adult nieces and nephews. Since the patient is unmarried and is without living parents, the adult brother should be approached to discuss the patient's needs. The adult niece would be next. The minor sister and best friend would not be considered.

A Patient, Admitted with a Grave Head Injury, Does Not