What should the medical assistant do if a patient refuses to answer a question regarding sexual history during the patient interview?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

It is important to respect the patient's autonomy and privacy. Attempting to force an answer may make the patient uncomfortable and damage trust in the healthcare provider. The medical assistant can attempt to return to the question later or ask if the patient is comfortable discussing the topic at a later time. It is also important to document the patient's refusal to answer in the medical record. Skipping the question completely may lead to incomplete information which could lead to missed diagnoses or inappropriate care. Waiting until the patient is ready to answer may be appropriate, but it is important to address the question at some point during the visit.

What Should the Medical Assistant Do If a Patient Refuses