If you were preparing to do an elective surgery on a child who had some difficulty with intubation (with possible aspiration), how would you proceed?

"Elective procedures are just that--elective. Therefore, everything should be perfect. Any surgery--even the simplest--is serious business, and there is no room for taking even the slightest chance. I would rather explain why I canceled a surgery due to safety concerns over possible aspiration than explain that the child had a worse outcome because of my insisting on completing a planned surgery."

"The possibility of aspiration is a deal-breaker for the surgery. Even if the anesthesiologist assures me that all is well, if there's the slightest chance of this as a complication, I would cancel the surgery. There's just too much at stake and I have a responsibility to my patient to act the most prudently, always."

Another in a series of common sense barometer questions. This, however, is basic medical judgment. Therefore, show them that you have that judgment. Don't be afraid to 'shut anything down' if you can throw patient safety into your answer.

"Since this is an elective surgery and no one can know the full extent of the damage from the aspiration, I would say that since the surgery hasn't actually started, it can be aborted. That's the safest approach for the patient."