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Abstract
The evaluation of medical decision-making capacity and provision of emergency treatment
in the acute care setting may present a significant challenge for both physicians-in-training
and attending physicians. Although absolutely essential to the proper care of patients,
recalling criteria for decision-making capacity may prove cumbersome during a medical
emergency. Likewise, the requirements for providing emergency treatment must be fulfilled.
This article presents a mnemonic (CURVES: Choose and Communicate, Understand, Reason,
Value, Emergency, Surrogate) that addresses the abilities a patient must possess in
order to have decision-making capacity, as well as the essentials of emergency treatment.
It may be used in conjunction with, or in place of, lengthier capacity-assessment
tools, particularly when time is of the essence. In addition, the proposed tool assists
the practitioner in deciding whether emergency treatment may be administered, and
in documenting medical decisions made during an acute event.