Still, the case in question presents a difficult ethical question as the patient is unconscious and his state is quickly deteriorating. With no identification, no legal papers confirming his end of life wishes, and no family to contact, this makes for the perfect storm in patient autonomy ethics. What if doctors were to honor his wishes based off a tattoo, only to find out those were not his true wishes. It is important to note that the patient was found just outside the hospital. But if the doctors do resuscitate the patient and it is against his wishes, are they breaking an ethical (and possibly legal) code?
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