You are responding to a private residence for an 80-year-old female, with altered mental status. The husband called 911. When you arrive, their adult son is on the scene. He was not aware of the 911 call and says his dad has dementia and must have gotten scared and called just before he got there. He says his mom is a diabetic and this is a pretty common occurrence, but he's not sure how it happened this time.  The son said her blood sugar was 400, and he was just about to administer her normal dose of insulin. He says that since her sugar is so high, he wants to increase the dose. He is willing to sign a refusal on her behalf. Do you allow him to give the insulin? Assume the insulin is not expired and is prescribed to her. If yes, do you allow the refusal? Why or why not?

Phlebotomy Essentials
6th Edition
ISBN:9781451194524
Author:Ruth McCall, Cathee M. Tankersley MT(ASCP)
Publisher:Ruth McCall, Cathee M. Tankersley MT(ASCP)
Chapter1: Phlebotomy: Past And Present And The Healthcare Setting
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You are responding to a private residence for an 80-year-old female, with altered mental status. The husband called 911. When you arrive, their adult son is on the scene. He was not aware of the 911 call and says his dad has dementia and must have gotten scared and called just before he got there. He says his mom is a diabetic and this is a pretty common occurrence, but he's not sure how it happened this time. 

The son said her blood sugar was 400, and he was just about to administer her normal dose of insulin. He says that since her sugar is so high, he wants to increase the dose. He is willing to sign a refusal on her behalf.

  1. Do you allow him to give the insulin? Assume the insulin is not expired and is prescribed to her. If yes, do you allow the refusal? Why or why not?
  2. Explain your decision to the son, including what is happening on a physiologic level (in terms a layman can understand)
  3. What is the long-term solution for this situation of repeated episodes of hyperglycemia?
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