Question

you are called to a patient who is hallucinating and is thinking about killing himself. which action should a rescuer consider cruel?

applying restraints to immobilize the patient to a stretcher.
telling the patient you hear voices too, when you do not.
calling for transport to the hospital against the patients wishes.
putting a disposable mask on the patient who is spitting and crying.

Explanation:

Analyze patient presentation

The patient is experiencing hallucinations and suicidal ideation. This represents an acute psychiatric crisis requiring careful communication.

Evaluate communication strategies

Using the Therapeutic Communication knowledge point

• Lying to a patient by validating hallucinations you do not experience is non-therapeutic.
• It breaks trust, reinforces delusional thinking, and is considered psychologically cruel or harmful.

Evaluate physical interventions

Using the Behavioral Emergencies knowledge point

• Restraints, involuntary transport, and spit masks are standard safety protocols when a patient is suicidal or spitting.
• These actions protect the patient and crew, and are not considered cruel in emergency medicine.

Identify the correct option

Validating a hallucination by lying to the patient is the action a rescuer should consider psychologically cruel and counterproductive.

Answer:

• Applying restraints to immobilize the patient to a stretcher.
• Telling the patient you hear voices too, when you do not. (Correct answer)
• Calling for transport to the hospital against the patient's wishes.
• Putting a disposable mask on the patient who is spitting and crying.