An ICU nurse raises concerns that a patient's family member is pressuring the patient (who has capacity) to refuse a life-saving blood transfusion. Th...

Question

An ICU nurse raises concerns that a patient's family member is pressuring the patient (who has capacity) to refuse a life-saving blood transfusion. The patient appears to be influenced by the family member's wishes rather than expressing their own autonomous choice. What should the clinical team do?

Accepted Answer

Assess the patient's capacity and the voluntariness of their decision independently from the family member - speak to the patient alone, without the family present, to determine their true wishes; if there is concern about coercion or undue influence, the refusal may not be a valid autonomous decision

Answer

Accept the refusal without further investigation

Answer

Override the patient's refusal

Answer

Involve the police

Answer

Discharge the patient

uk-fficm MCQ (SBA): Coercion and Treatment Refusal