A surgeon completes an explanation of a bowel resection to an older adult client who has mild cognitive impairment. The surgeon then leaves the room, instructing the practical nurse (PN) to witness the client's signature on the informed consent form. The client looks at the form and says, "I will sign it, but I do not really understand what they are going to cut out." Before the PN can respond, the client's adult child forcefully grabs the client's hand, physically guides the pen to sign the document, and whispers threateningly, "If you do not do this, I am putting you in a state home." A neighbor who is visiting the room then turns to the PN and asks, "What kind of surgery are they having?" Which of the following is the most appropriate legal and ethical action for the PN to take?
- ARefuse to witness the signature and accept the surgeon's delegated task to re-explain the bowel resection until the client understands, before reporting the child's behavior.
- BSign the consent form as a witness since the surgeon already completed the explanation, answer the neighbor's question using non-medical terms, and document the adult child's actions.
- CHalt the consent process, ask the neighbor to leave the room to protect privacy, document the physical coercion, and wait for confirmation from the social worker before filing an abuse report.
- Decline to witness the coerced signature, inform the neighbor that the client's information is confidential, and immediately report the suspected elder abuse to the nursing supervisor and state authorities.Cevap