An 82-year-old man with metastatic lung cancer, progressive functional decline and frequent hospitalisations is admitted again with pneumonia. He has ...

Question

An 82-year-old man with metastatic lung cancer, progressive functional decline and frequent hospitalisations is admitted again with pneumonia. He has previously said he 'doesn't want to suffer' but no formal advance care plan exists. What is the most appropriate next step?

Accepted Answer

Initiate a structured goals-of-care conversation, exploring values and preferences, and document advance directives

Answer

Focus solely on treating pneumonia without discussing goals of care

Answer

Assume he wants full resuscitation because nothing is written

Answer

Immediately write a Do Not Resuscitate order without discussion

Answer

Discharge him without addressing prognosis

ca-mccqe1 MCQ (SBA): Goals of care and advance care planning

An 82-year-old man with metastatic lung cancer, progressive functional decline and frequent hospitalisations is admitted again with pneumonia. He has previously said he 'doesn't want to suffer' but no formal advance care plan exists. What is the most appropriate next step?