Any glimmer of uncertainty as to a patient's desire in an emergency situation should be resolved by

• A. Delaying decisions until the patient can decide
• B. Acting in favor of preserving life
• C. Deferring to the family’s wishes
• D. Documenting the uncertainty and obtaining consent later

Answer: (B)

In emergencies, when a patient cannot express their wishes, clinicians act to preserve life under the doctrine of implied consent. This approach rests on beneficence and the duty to prevent harm, recognizing that delaying treatment or waiting for explicit permission could result in irreversible harm. Therefore, unless there is an clearly applicable advance directive or a legally authorized surrogate with explicit instructions, the appropriate course is to provide life-sustaining care and proceed with what is necessary to protect the patient’s life. If an advance directive or surrogate decision-maker is identified, their instructions should guide care; otherwise, continue treatment and reassess as soon as the patient regains capacity or a surrogate becomes available.