A confused older man refuses urgent hernia surgery
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Mr. Walter Briggs, 79, came in last night with a painful, hard groin bulge and vomiting. The surgeon diagnosed an incarcerated inguinal hernia with possible strangulation and recommends surgery within the next few hours. He has a urinary tract infection and a temperature of 38.4 °C. The night nurse reports he was confused overnight, pulling at his IV and asking for his late wife, Ruth; this morning he seems calmer. He has told the surgeon he refuses the operation. His daughter, his named health care agent, is on her way.
Your task: speak with Mr. Briggs about his refusal and assess whether he can make this decision. You have 8 minutes; a warning sounds at 6 minutes.4