#august2020mccqe1
A 75-year-old man is in a persistent vegetative state following a large intracranial bleed secondary to an arteriovenous malformation. Two advance directives are in the chart. One is a living will stating that the patient requests withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment if he were to ever be in a vegetative state. The other is a durable power of attorney form stating that his brother is the legally designated surrogate health care decision maker. After reading these forms, the brother approaches the physician and requests that the medical team continue to treat, feed, and hydrate the patient. How should the medical team proceed?
(A) Medical team should consult the hospital ethics committee
(B) Medical team should continue to feed and hydrate the patient but not provide additional care (e.g., antibiotics if the patient develops an infection)
(C) Medical team should continue to treat, feed, and hydrate the patient
(D) Medical team should let a court decide how to proceed
(E) Medical team should seek out the opinion of the next closest family member to resolve the issue
(F) Medical team should withdraw all treatment
A 75-year-old man is in a persistent vegetative state following a large intracranial bleed secondary to an arteriovenous malformation. Two advance directives are in the chart. One is a living will stating that the patient requests withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment if he were to ever be in a vegetative state. The other is a durable power of attorney form stating that his brother is the legally designated surrogate health care decision maker. After reading these forms, the brother approaches the physician and requests that the medical team continue to treat, feed, and hydrate the patient. How should the medical team proceed?
(A) Medical team should consult the hospital ethics committee
(B) Medical team should continue to feed and hydrate the patient but not provide additional care (e.g., antibiotics if the patient develops an infection)
(C) Medical team should continue to treat, feed, and hydrate the patient
(D) Medical team should let a court decide how to proceed
(E) Medical team should seek out the opinion of the next closest family member to resolve the issue
(F) Medical team should withdraw all treatment
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