Adult Capacity To Consent To Treatment

Cordelia, a 29-year-old woman, presents to the Accident and Emergency department in extreme pain. She fell over on AstroTurf in the afternoon the day before while playing hockey and grazed her knees. Her left knee is now extremely painful, swollen and erythematous, and she cannot bend her leg or weight bear. You suspect that she has a septic arthritis secondary to her knee injury. This is a medical emergency, and without immediate drainage and antibiotic treatment there is a risk of destructive joint damage and permanent disability. You explain to Cordelia that she needs to have the joint aspirated and the risks associated with aspiration. You are not sure that she is taking in what you are telling her because she is in pain and very scared.

• Is the patient competent to make such a decision?
• How is this assessment made?
• Who makes this assessment?

Apply Theory (Specific Professional Healthcare Competencies + Clinical Medical Ethical Principles) to Practice in order to provide Optimal Patient-Centered Care (OPCC)

Source – Ethics Case Studies from Clinical Ethics and Law (Second Edition), Carolyn Johnston Penelope Bradbury