Canadian Health Information Management Association Practice Exam

What type of consent is applied when a patient collapses at the entrance of an emergency department?

1. Emergency consent

2. Expressed consent

3. Implied consent

4. Informed consent

The correct answer is: Implied consent

When a patient collapses at the entrance of an emergency department, the most applicable type of consent is implied consent. This is because implied consent is generally understood as the assumption that a patient would want immediate medical treatment when they are unable to communicate their wishes due to a medical emergency or incapacity. In emergency situations, healthcare providers often enact implied consent to provide necessary care promptly, especially when the patient is unconscious or unable to give explicit consent. The urgency of the situation dictates the need for immediate intervention to preserve life, prevent serious deterioration, or alleviate significant suffering, overriding the typical requirement for expressed or informed consent. Expressed consent involves a clear and direct agreement to treatment, which is not feasible in emergency scenarios when the patient cannot communicate. Informed consent requires that the patient be fully informed about the risks, benefits, and alternatives to treatment, which again may not be possible if the patient is incapacitated. Emergency consent is also relevant but is broadly encompassed within the concept of implied consent in this urgent situation. Thus, given the context, implied consent is the most appropriate type of consent applied in this emergency case.