When medical control gives an order that seems inappropriate, after confirming that you heard the physician correctly, you should:

• A. Advise the physician that the order is unclear and ask for clarification.
• B. Obtain consent from the patient and then carry out the order as usual.
• C. State that you will not carry out the order because it is inappropriate.
• D. Carry out the order and then carefully document it on the run form.

Answer: (A)

When a medical control order seems inappropriate, the priority is to ensure you understood it exactly and get clarification. After you confirm you heard the physician correctly, you should tell them that the order is unclear and ask for clarification. This keeps the patient safe by making sure the treatment is appropriate for the current condition and prevents acting on a misheard or ambiguous instruction. It also preserves proper communication with medical control and your own accountability for what you do.

Consent from the patient isn’t a substitute for clearing up an unclear order, and simply carrying out the order or documenting it afterward could lead to harm or confusion. If the order remains unclear after clarification, you would then seek a supervisor or a higher authority to resolve the ambiguity.