A 15-year-old boy suspected of acute meningitis was rushed to the Emergency Room by his parents. The pediatrician decided to do a lumbar puncture. Which of the following is the mos... A 15-year-old boy suspected of acute meningitis was rushed to the Emergency Room by his parents. The pediatrician decided to do a lumbar puncture. Which of the following is the most appropriate next action? A. Take parent consent but not patient assent B. Take patient assent but not parent consent C. Take both patient assent and parent consent D. Do not take patient assent or parent consent because it is an emergency case
Understand the Problem
The question is presenting a medical scenario involving a 15-year-old boy suspected of having acute meningitis and asks for the most appropriate action regarding consent for a lumbar puncture. It is necessary to consider both the ethical and legal aspects of consent in a medical emergency involving a minor.
Answer
Take both patient assent and parent consent.
The final answer is C. Take both patient assent and parent consent.
Answer for screen readers
The final answer is C. Take both patient assent and parent consent.
More Information
In non-emergency situations involving minors, healthcare providers typically seek both informed consent from the parents and assent from the child, when appropriate. This respects the minor's developing autonomy while ensuring parental involvement.
Tips
A common mistake is assuming patient assent is not necessary for minors. Depending on the age and maturity of the child, obtaining assent when possible is often best practice.
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