A 78-year-old patient with widely metastatic pancreatic cancer is admitted to the hospital with intractable pain. He states he no longer wishes to receive any life-prolonging treatments, including nutrition and hydration, and wants to focus solely on comfort measures. He is alert and oriented. What is the physician's primary ethical obligation in this situation?

The correct answer to the question "A 78-year-old patient with widely metastatic pancreatic cancer is admitted to the hospital with intractable pain. He states he no longer wishes to receive any life-prolonging treatments, including nutrition and hydration, and wants to focus solely on comfort measures. He is alert and oriented. What is the physician's primary ethical obligation in this situation?" is Option B: Respect the patient's autonomous decision and initiate palliative care..

The other options — A) Attempt to persuade the patient to accept life-prolonging treatments., C) Consult with family members to override the patient's decision., D) Seek a psychiatric evaluation to assess decision-making capacity. — are incorrect for this USMLE Exam Prep question. As explained above: Respecting patient autonomy is paramount. If a patient with decision-making capacity expresses a clear desire to forgo life-prolonging treatments, the physician's ethical obligation is to honor that …