09-05-2011, 02:35 PM
A 17-year-old male gifted athlete is brought to your office by his aunt for a preparticipation physical examination for football. His father is incarcerated. His mother and legal guardian are at work and unavailable by phone. His aunt would like him tested for drug use. The chart reveals numerous missed appointments for previous evaluations. It has been more than 10 years since the patient’s last tetanus booster. The patient is anxious to have a tetanus booster so his football coach will allow him to practice, and he shows adequate understanding of the potential side effects and options to defer it. He is unwilling to have a drug screen.
On physical examination, he is a healthy, muscular mid-adolescent with formal operational reasoning. A urinalysis is normal.
Your state contains a minor treatment statute, a subsequent statute requiring parental consent for vaccination, and recognizes mature minors over age 14 years in common law.
Which of the following is the best option to meet the needs of this patient?
(A) Give a tetanus booster and send his urine for a drug screen without his knowledge.
(B) Defer both the tetanus booster and drug screen until his mother is available.
© Give a tetanus booster and defer the drug screen until his mother is available.
(D) Defer the tetanus booster but send his urine for the drug screen without his knowledge.
On physical examination, he is a healthy, muscular mid-adolescent with formal operational reasoning. A urinalysis is normal.
Your state contains a minor treatment statute, a subsequent statute requiring parental consent for vaccination, and recognizes mature minors over age 14 years in common law.
Which of the following is the best option to meet the needs of this patient?
(A) Give a tetanus booster and send his urine for a drug screen without his knowledge.
(B) Defer both the tetanus booster and drug screen until his mother is available.
© Give a tetanus booster and defer the drug screen until his mother is available.
(D) Defer the tetanus booster but send his urine for the drug screen without his knowledge.