A medical resident has obtained consent for a procedure, but the patient is now confused and refusing. What should you do?

In situations where a patient shows confusion and subsequently refuses a procedure after initially consenting, it's essential to ensure that the consent obtained is valid. The correct action involves calling the resident to clarify the patient's state of mind at the time the consent was given. This ensures that the healthcare team understands whether the patient had the capacity to consent when the procedure was discussed and agreed upon.

Consent requires that patients are informed and able to make decisions regarding their care, including understanding the nature and risks of the procedure. If the patient is now confused, it raises questions about their capacity at the time of consent. Clarifying this with the resident allows for a review of the specifics surrounding the consent and may highlight whether the patient's cognitive status has impacted their ability to provide informed consent.

In contrast, canceling the surgery without further investigation may disregard the valid consent process that may have taken place. Asking the wife to sign another consent could also pose ethical and legal issues, as it doesn’t address the patient’s current ability to consent or refuse the procedure. Consulting neurology might be appropriate if there's a suspicion of an underlying neurological issue affecting the patient's cognition; however, without first clarifying the context of the consent, this step could be premature.