An elderly patient presents with bruises, accompanied by a daughter and son who is legally responsible for them. What do you do?

Correct answer: A. Question the elderly patient alone

• A. Correct. The appropriate first step is to interview/assess the vulnerable adult privately (away from potential abusers) to gather more information before deciding whether reporting is warranted.
• B. Reporting immediately without first assessing the situation (and the patient alone) skips a necessary fact-finding step, though reporting is mandatory once abuse is suspected/confirmed.
• C. Ignoring a potential sign of elder abuse violates mandatory reporting obligations and patient welfare duties.