Behavioral Science & Ethics USMLE Step 1 Practice Question
A 16-year-old boy is brought to the emergency department by his parents after a suicide attempt by medication overdose. He is medically stabilized. He tells the psychiatrist he no longer wants to harm himself and asks to be discharged. His parents want him admitted for inpatient psychiatric care. Which of the following is the most appropriate action?
Answer choices
- AAllow the patient to leave against medical advice with parental agreement
- BAdmit the patient for inpatient psychiatric evaluationCorrect answer
- CObtain the patient's written consent before admission
- DDischarge the patient because he is no longer suicidal
- EDischarge with an outpatient psychiatry referral within 48 hours
- FDischarge the patient after a single suicide risk assessment by the emergency medicine attending physician
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