Parental Decision Making: Case 1
Case Number:
1
A 4-year-old with an obviously broken forearm is brought to the emergency department by her baby-sitter. Both the baby-sitter and emergency room staff have attempted to reach her parents without success.
Can you treat this child without parental permission?
Case Discussion:
Your first duty is to the health and welfare of the child. Having attempted unsuccessfully to reach her parents for consent, you should proceed with x-rays and treatment of her fractured forearm. Rapid treatment of the child's pain and fracture are clearly in her best interest. When optimal treatment requires immediate intervention, treatment should not be delayed even if consent has not been obtained.
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