Patients in critical condition should not be discharged or transferred to another facility prior to being stabilized. This means they should be stabilized:

• A. After stabilization.
• B. Prior to being stabilized.
• C. Only with consent.
• D. Never.

Answer: (B)

Stabilization must come before any discharge or transfer when a patient is in critical condition. Stabilization means addressing life-threatening issues and ensuring the patient’s vital signs, airway, breathing, and circulation are as secure as possible so they won’t deteriorate during transport or after moving to another facility. This standard helps prevent harm to patients who are unstable and is reinforced by legal and ethical obligations to not “dump” an unstable patient onto another setting.

So the correct understanding is that the patient should be stabilized before discharge or transfer. If a choice seems to imply otherwise, remember the emphasis is on stabilization occurring first; only after stabilization can discharge or transfer be considered.