Parents are responsible for making decisions for their children's medical care. This right extends to refusing or discontinuing medical treatment even if it is life threatening. This right has been challenged and upheld in court. You are working in the emergency room and an ambulance has just brought in a child who has been hit by a car. You recognize the child right away. This is a child from your neighborhood. The parents are not with the child and the child has no identification. The trauma doctor says the child will need blood and when stabilized, will need to go to surgery. You know that the parent's religious beliefs prevent them from agreeing to either procedure. If you tell the ER staff who the patient is, they will call the parents for consent and the child will die. If you do nothing, the child has a chance to make it. What is the ethical dilemma in this situation?

What should you do?

What would you do?