Behavioral Science & Ethics USMLE Step 1 Practice Question
A 70-year-old man with mild cognitive impairment is brought to his primary care physician by his daughter. The daughter privately tells the physician that she wants to be appointed as her father's healthcare proxy and asks the physician to certify that her father lacks decision-making capacity. On examination, the patient can state his name, current location, and the date. He can explain the risks and benefits of his current medications. Which of the following is the most appropriate action?
Answer choices
- AAppoint the daughter as healthcare proxy because mild cognitive impairment will inevitably progress
- BAdvise the patient to establish an advance directive while he still has capacity
- CRefer the patient for formal neuropsychological testing before making a determination
- DCertify that the patient lacks decision-making capacity as requested
- EInform the daughter that the patient currently demonstrates adequate decision-making capacityCorrect answer
- FCertify incapacity based on diagnosis alone
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