A 79-year-old patient with end-stage cardiac disease has a healthcare proxy in place that explicitly states no life-prolonging treatments. A relative insists on administering an experimental drug. What should the healthcare team do in this situation?
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AConsult with the doctor to discuss possible compromises with the relative.
BRevise the patient's treatment plan to include potential life-prolonging options.
CInform the relative that the patient's healthcare proxy directives must be followed, and the drug will not be administered.
DAdminister the experimental drug while awaiting further instructions.
✓ Correct answer: C. Inform the relative that the patient's healthcare proxy directives must be followed, and the drug will not be administered.The healthcare team is legally and ethically obligated to follow the patient's healthcare proxy instructions. The directive overrides the relative's requests for experimental drug administration. The team should support the relative emotionally while clearly communicating that the proxy directives are binding.
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