Dementia Patient Refusing Medication
MMIMediumEthics · 6 minSelf-marked
How to use this: start the timer and answer the question out loud (or type it). Then grade yourself 0–3 on each skill with a note of your evidence — exactly as our examiners do. Hit Reveal benchmark & score to see what a model answer scores and how you compare. Everything saves to your browser automatically.
Answer timer
6:00/ 6 min suggested
1
Answer the question
Dementia Patient Refusing Medication
An elderly patient with dementia refuses medication she needs. How do you approach this?
Likely follow-ups
1
How would you assess capacity for this decision?
2
If she lacks capacity, who decides?
3
Could you covertly administer the medication?
Your answer
Speak it out loud and we'll type it for you (free), or type your own notes — then mark yourself below.
Resources & frameworks
- Four pillars: autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, justice.
- Name the conflict → weigh both sides → gather more info → safe, patient-centred action.
What strong answers doReveal the benchmark
Hidden so they don't bias your answer. Score yourself first, then reveal them to compare.
- Capacity is decision-specific and time-specific - she may have capacity for some decisions but not others.
- If she lacks capacity, decisions must be in her best interests (Mental Capacity Act 2005), informed by past wishes, family input, and the least restrictive option.
- Covert administration is legal in narrow circumstances with a robust best-interests process - never as a casual workaround.
2
Mark yourself
Score each skill against the rubric, then add a line of evidence. Scale:
0Not shown1Limited2Good3Excellent
Quick mark:Completion: 0%
Ethical Awareness
0/3Best interests framework
Law Knowledge
0/3MCA 2005 fluency
Communication
0/3With family
Empathy
0/3Respects the patient as a person
3
Reflect & score
What would you change next time?
Your overall score / 10
Total: 0/12(Core 0/6 • Extra 0/6 • Score 0/10)
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