Determining the reasonableness of a refusal to treat: Scenario 2

• A nurse is driving home after her 10 hour shift at the hospital. She is feeling tired and looking forward to going home and relaxing. On her way home she comes across a motor accident with three bodies lying on the side of the road. One of the bystanders flags her down to help. She is the only health practitioner at the scene of the accident. She calls the emergency services and the police. She tells the bystander that she has had a busy day at the hospital, and needs to go home. She says that as she has called the emergency services and the police, the bystander should wait until they arrive. She then leaves the scene of the accident and drives home.

–Do you think that the nurse’s conduct was reasonable? Why or why not?

–If not, what do you think that she should have done? Explain.