A 70-year-old patient requires an elective appendectomy. While he appears generally oriented, he has mild short-term memory impairment and difficulty retaining complex medical information, but can express his wishes. Who is primarily responsible for ensuring he understands and provides informed consent for the surgery?

The correct answer to the question "A 70-year-old patient requires an elective appendectomy. While he appears generally oriented, he has mild short-term memory impairment and difficulty retaining complex medical information, but can express his wishes. Who is primarily responsible for ensuring he understands and provides informed consent for the surgery?" is Option C: The surgeon performing the procedure.

The other options — A) The patient's closest family member, B) The primary care physician, D) A medical social worker — are incorrect for this USMLE Exam Prep question. As explained above: The surgeon performing the procedure is ethically and legally responsible for obtaining informed consent from the patient. This involves explaining the risks, benefits, and alternatives in a way the …