11-30-2010, 04:19 PM
A 16-year-old boy and his mother come to the office because the mother is concerned that her son may have a drug problem. You have treated him in the past for mild intermittent asthma, and he currently uses an albuterol inhaler prior to exercise. You last saw him 1 year ago for a sports physical examination. At that time, he admitted to drinking alcohol on the weekends. He also admitted to marijuana use but had planned to quit using both before track season started. The mother says that her son now seems disinterested in school and other activities in which he was previously engaged. He has quit the track team, has become irritable, and he has a new set of friends whom his mother dislikes and describes as "druggies." She acknowledges that the boy's father, from whom she is divorced, has an alcohol abuse problem. The boy's older brother abused cocaine for 2 years but is now in a drug rehabilitation program. Prior to interviewing and examining the patient, the mother pulls you aside and asks you to test her son for drugs without informing him. Which of the following is the most appropriate response?
A) Agree to do toxicologic screening but review the test results with the patient before giving the results to the mother.
(B) Agree to do toxicologic screening only if, after discussing it with the patient, he agrees to the test.
C) Agree to do toxicologic screening without the patient's knowledge per his mother's request
D) Decline to do toxicologic screening stating that you do not want to get caught between her and her son.
E) Decline to do toxicologic screening unless under a court order.
A) Agree to do toxicologic screening but review the test results with the patient before giving the results to the mother.
(B) Agree to do toxicologic screening only if, after discussing it with the patient, he agrees to the test.
C) Agree to do toxicologic screening without the patient's knowledge per his mother's request
D) Decline to do toxicologic screening stating that you do not want to get caught between her and her son.
E) Decline to do toxicologic screening unless under a court order.