A woman comes into the ER after a car accident. She needs a blood transfusion but states that her religion is against blood transfusions. What decision do you make?

"From what I understand, if the patient is of sound mind and they understand the risk they are taking by refusing medical assistance, I do not have the right to override her religious choice. Many factors could change this, such as an unconscious patient, someone under the influence of a narcotic, or perhaps if the person and I had a significant language barrier. I should refer to my facility's leaders and ethics community in these situations. This is a decision I would not feel comfortable making entirely on my own."

All patients of sound mind have a right to make decisions about their bodies and medical treatment. Physicians must honor the patient's rights and not force treatment against the patient's wishes. There are situations where physicians can treat patients without their consent, including unconscious patients, patients with an altered level of consciousness, or patients under the influence. If a physician is in doubt, there are ethics committees to confer with. Show the interviewers you understand and honor patient rights while enlisting the assistance of the ethics committees when in doubt.