Geriatric Quick Consult      Decision-making Capacity      Do #4

Always involve the family, even when patient's thoughts are clear

Knowledge

Action

Family members often feel protective of their elders and if they are "out of the loop" they may later question whether the patient had adequate decisional capacity when a choice was made. Besides being a good general practice to maintain good relationships with families who can be very helpful in managing patient care, it is also prudent from a medico-legal perspective. One of the most troubling concerns expressed by family members of hospitalized elders is the feeling that they don't have adequate opportunity to communicate with physicians, and that decisions for interventions are treated as a foregone conclusion with no alternatives offered. A brief, respectful encounter with the family usually obviates such problems.

Maintain active communication with family members. This helps with patient care and can prevent future misunderstandings about treatment.