If the patient regains capacity, what should you do?

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Multiple Choice

If the patient regains capacity, what should you do?

When a patient regains capacity, they regain the right to decide about their own care. You must obtain explicit consent before continuing or reassessing treatment, after clearly explaining what you’ve done and what you plan to do next. If they agree, you proceed with their consent; if they refuse, you respect their decision and adjust or stop care accordingly. Continuing without consent violates autonomy, stopping care would abandon the patient, and waiting for EMS while consent is needed isn’t the appropriate step when the patient is able to decide.

When a patient regains capacity, they regain the right to decide about their own care. You must obtain explicit consent before continuing or reassessing treatment, after clearly explaining what you’ve done and what you plan to do next. If they agree, you proceed with their consent; if they refuse, you respect their decision and adjust or stop care accordingly. Continuing without consent violates autonomy, stopping care would abandon the patient, and waiting for EMS while consent is needed isn’t the appropriate step when the patient is able to decide.

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