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In reply to the discussion: 10-Year-Old With COVID Dies After Mom Given Choice to Amputate Limbs or 'Let Him Go' [View all]whopis01
(3,555 posts)In this case, the mother is the guardian and is responsible for making those decisions for her child.
In the example you gave, if the family member had medical power of attorney, then they could refuse the procedure on behalf of the injured relative. Typically spouses automatically have medical power of attorney, but other family members would not in the case of an adult.
This doesn't mean that the doctors have to seek out a family member in order to get consent. But if a guardian, or other person with medical power of attorney is objecting to the procedure, then they can't proceed with it. So in the case of a sudden, traumatic injury, there is much less chance of someone else being present to object to the procedure than is the case with a disease that is progressing over a longer period of time.
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