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WHAT WOULD YOU DO? ETHICS IN EMERGENCY MEDICINE Bernard Heilicser, DO, MS, FACEP, FACOEP-D
from ACOEP The Pulse Winter 2022
by ACOEP
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Bernard Heilicser, DO, MS, FACEP, FACOEP-D
What Would You Do?
Ethics in Emergency Medicine
In this issue of The Pulse, we present a case submitted by George Miller, DO (recipient of the Bruce D. Horton DO, FACOEP Lifetime Achievement Award).
The patient is a 16-year-old male who was brought to the ED by EMS accompanied by his mother. The patient was in respiratory distress, tachycardia, tachypneic and hypotensive. The mucous membranes were pale. He was conversive and demonstrated decision-making capacity.
Work-up revealed a Hgb of 1.5. When informed he needed a transfusion, he refused, stating his religious beliefs forbade it. When questioned what religion, he stated it was his Church and he was the Pastor, and his was the only congregation. The patient’s mother stated he is the Man of the House (the father left them when the patient was an infant). The patient did agree to be intubated.
Should we honor the patient’s wishes? Or, should we transfuse, and if so, under what premise?
WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
Visit www.acoep.org/newsroom and share your thoughts on this case.
If you have any cases that you would like to present or be reviewed in The Pulse, email them to us at mcomerford@acoep.org.
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