A 43-year-old patient with a known history of substance abuse is admitted to the emergency department in a state of acute withdrawal. The patient vehemently refuses any medication that has potentially addictive properties, including those necessary to safely manage withdrawal symptoms. As a certified emergency nurse, which of the following actions best addresses this ethical dilemma?
Choose not to treat the withdrawal symptoms to fully respect the patient's wishes.
Recommend only non-addictive alternatives, despite their potentially lower efficacy in managing severe withdrawal symptoms.
Engage the patient in a discussion about the risks and benefits of available treatments, considering their preferences and medical needs.
Administer the necessary medication without the patient’s consent to prevent immediate harm.