In emergencies when a patient cannot consent, care may be provided based on

• A. Informed consent
• B. No consent
• C. Express consent
• D. Implied consent

Answer: (D)

In emergencies, when a patient cannot provide consent, care is guided by implied consent. This means clinicians proceed with treatment that is necessary to prevent death or serious harm, operating under the reasonable assumption that a patient would want life-saving or life-preserving care if able to decide. The actions are limited to what’s necessary to stabilize the patient, and documentation should note the emergent situation and the care given. If the patient later regains capacity, they should be informed about what was done and the course of treatment can be discussed going forward. If there are advance directives, do-not-resuscitate orders, or an available surrogate decision-maker, those take precedence over implied consent. This differs from informed or express consent, which require the patient’s clear understanding and voluntary agreement, and from no consent, which is not a basis for providing treatment in emergencies.