Ethics & Law · patient case question
A biopsy has been planned for a third patient and the appointment is booked. What must happen next?
Patient case: Two consents and a signature
demo: Two consecutive patients
chief: Both need treatment today and questions arise about who may give consent.
history: The first is a 16-year-old girl who has been legally emancipated and attends with her 21-year-old sister. The second is an 8-year-old boy brought by his grandmother; no consent form is on file and the parents cannot be reached by phone.
meds: None relevant.
findings: Neither patient is in pain or has an acute infection. Both attend for routine restorative care.
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: D. Obtain and document written informed consent for the procedure
- A. Clinical photography is good documentation practice, but consent is the requirement that must come first.
- B. Routine prophylaxis is not indicated for a soft tissue biopsy in a healthy patient and would not be the next step in any event.
- C. Blood work is ordered only when the medical history indicates it, such as a bleeding disorder or anticoagulation.
- D. Correct. Informed consent precedes any invasive procedure. The discussion covers diagnosis, the nature of the procedure, its risks and benefits, reasonable alternatives including no treatment, and the opportunity to ask questions, and it is documented before the scalpel is picked up.