Xander is an emergency room physician. He has a patient who is a college student. Her mother was in town and noticed that the young woman had a wet, productive cough. Worried, she insisted on taking her daughter to the emergency room. Xander wants to get a chest x -ray, but first he must make sure his patient is not pregnant, since the radiation might be harmful to a fetus. What is the BEST way to show respect for this patient's right to confidentiality?
a. Ask the patient's mother to step out so that he might ask a few questions.
b. Keep quiet and assume that the patient will speak up if she is pregnant.
c. Ask the patient if she is pregnant in front of her mother since they are family.
d. Call the student health clinic at the college to find out if the student is pregnant.
