Page 1 of 1: Ethic clinical case/emergency medicine

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Q-You are doing an emergency medicine rotation as a third year medical student. A 4 year-old boy who has just been in a car accident is rushed in because he has severe blood loss requiring transfusion. The boy's parents refuse to give consent for the transfusion because they are Jehovahs Witnesses. You go to the judge and get a court order for the transfusion citing which of the following principles of medical ethics?

A Justice
B Nonmaleficence
C Paternalism
D Confidentiality
Answer B
You are acting out of nonmaleficence. Nonmaleficence is the duty to "first do no harm." Clearly it is harmful to this boy to not receive the blood transfusion. Although the parents object to the transfusion on religious grounds, this patient is to young to make his own decision. You should get the court order to insure that the patient is not harmed.

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