Free BCEN Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN) Practice Question

The correct answer is to proceed with necessary treatment under the principle of implied consent. In emergency situations where a patient is unconscious and unable to provide consent, and no legal representative is immediately available, healthcare providers are ethically and legally permitted to provide necessary treatment to prevent death or serious harm. This is based on the assumption that a reasonable person would consent to life-saving treatment if they were able to do so.

While obtaining consent from family members is generally preferred when possible, waiting for family to arrive could delay critical care in this scenario. Contacting the hospital's legal department, although sometimes necessary in complex cases, would also delay urgent treatment. Withholding treatment until the patient regains consciousness is not appropriate in this situation, as it could result in further harm or death.

It's important to note that once the immediate life-threatening situation is addressed and if family members become available, they should be informed and involved in further treatment decisions. Additionally, all actions taken under implied consent should be thoroughly documented in the patient's medical record.