Health Care & Personal Decision-Making Flashcards

A POLST (Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment) form is best described as:

Answer: A portable medical order signed by a clinician for seriously ill patients

POLST is an actionable medical order, signed by a clinician, that travels with seriously ill patients across care settings.

A physician asks a guardian to sign a DNR order for a ward whose wishes are unknown. What should the guardian do first?

Answer: Gather medical information, consult the ward and family about values, and follow state law on any required court approval

End-of-life decisions call for informed deliberation, the ward's input where possible, and compliance with state rules, some of which require court approval.

A ward needs emergency surgery and the guardian cannot be reached. Generally, providers may:

Answer: Treat under the emergency exception to informed consent

The emergency exception allows treatment needed to prevent death or serious harm when consent cannot be obtained in time.

A ward with partial capacity strongly objects to a recommended non-emergency treatment. The guardian should FIRST:

Answer: Explore the ward's reasons and involve the ward in the decision as much as possible

NGA Standards require guardians to encourage the ward's participation and give serious weight to their expressed preferences.

In many states, a guardian who wants a ward admitted involuntarily to a psychiatric hospital must:

Answer: Use the state's civil commitment process or get specific court authority

Many states bar guardians from consenting to involuntary psychiatric admission without commitment proceedings or explicit court authority.

When is it most appropriate for a guardian to seek a second medical opinion?

Answer: Before a major, non-emergency procedure with significant risk

Second opinions are prudent for significant elective procedures so the guardian's consent is well informed.

A guardian's personal religious beliefs conflict with a treatment the ward would have wanted. The guardian should:

Answer: Make the decision the ward would have made, or seek to withdraw if they cannot

Guardians must set aside personal values and decide based on the ward's values, or step aside if they cannot do so.