Tina has been in a car wreck and has internal bleeding. In the ER, she tells the physician that she is a Jehovah's Witness and refuses blood transfusions. The physician tells her that she will die without the transfusions. She still refuses. There is no reason to believe the patient is mentally compromised.

The physician decides to try to save her life and rushes her to the OR. While the patient is under general anesthetic, the physician orders and gives four units of blood to the patient.

In the recovery room, the nurse, Tanya is reviewing the record and sees the ER nurse's note about the refusal of blood. She saw that the patient was given blood and decides to talk to the physician.

The physician tells Tanya that his Hippocratic Oath would not allow him to stand by and watch the patient die when he could prevent it.

• What is the Hippocratic Oath?
• Why is this important to physicians?
• Were the patient's rights violated? Explain
• What should Tanya do?