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?
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.
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.