Originally Posted by
Duff Man
Angela...or whatever name I made up before, is knocked out and the MT decides to take you to the closest hospitol...who's choice is it? Time is ticking and there is not enough time to contact an adult or move you to another location.
IMO, a hospital should be aware of this scenario and have an option that is non-partisan...wether it's appointing a non-partisan surgeon, having a "non-blessed" wing of the hospital...something....I don't care.
And unless you are liberatarian, you know and better agree that even a privately funded hospital holds and needingly holds accords with the federal and state laws.
This scenario has already been well tried and tested, both in the ER and the courtroom. When the decision cannot be made for oneself, it goes to next of kin or guardian. Barring either, the clinician will use their judgement and possibly consult with an ethics liason. Doctors would rather not have to make these types of decisions.