A 77-year-old woman is admitted with a stroke that renders the patient dependent on endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation. There is no hope of recovery and the patient is unable to communicate. There is no health-care proxy and the patient lacks the capacity to understand her problems. Her husband produces a living will signed by the patient on which is written the statement, "I do not wish to be maintained on a ventilator if there is no hope of recovery." He does not recall ever discussing the subject with his wife.
What should you do?
a. Continue the ventilator.
b. Risk management evaluation.
c. Remove the tube and the ventilator.
d. Seek a court order to remove the ventilator.
e. Ask the rest of the family what they think.