How to Answer: If a patient with severe dementia has two equally authorized persons disagreeing with management, e.g., two children or two siblings, how will you decide whose directives to follow?
Advice and answer examples written specifically for a Geriatric Physician job interview.
2. If a patient with severe dementia has two equally authorized persons disagreeing with management, e.g., two children or two siblings, how will you decide whose directives to follow?
How to Answer
In these days of advanced care directives and powers-of-attorney, unusual scenarios are going to happen, no doubt. This question is asked to demonstrate your logic, if such an unusual scenario were to occur. The logic here is that you won't tolerate indecision in a case of two disagreeing persons, neither of whom is the sole authority. You will, however, do what's best for your patient, re-assuming the care in the spirit of the advanced directive.
Written by Audra Kresinske on February 22nd, 2021
Answer Example
"I educate all my patients to have an advanced care directive, because it is good for everyone. I also encourage only one person being named the highest--if not the only--authoritative person, if the advanced care directive doesn't specify a particular course of action. In this case you present, if the directive doesn't specify care in a particular instance and there is no one authority, but two who are in disagreement, then it is I who will direct care."
Written by Audra Kresinske on February 22nd, 2021