In what situation would implied consent apply in a SAR mission?

Implied consent applies in situations where it is assumed that an individual would agree to treatment if they were able to provide their consent, particularly when they are unable to communicate due to certain circumstances. In the context of a Search and Rescue mission, this is often the case with patients who are unconscious. When a person is unconscious, they cannot verbalize their wishes or make informed decisions about their medical care. Therefore, rescuers must act in the best interest of the individual, assuming that if they were conscious and able to decide, they would consent to necessary medical intervention, particularly in life-threatening situations.

In contrast, when a patient refuses treatment, consent is explicitly denied, making implied consent not applicable. When a patient is verbally consenting, it indicates clear and informed consent has been given, which means the situation doesn't rely on the application of implied consent. For minors, legal standards often dictate that consent must be obtained from a guardian, and while there are exceptions, the automatic application of implied consent is not guaranteed in these cases. Thus, the situation where a person is unconscious is the primary scenario where implied consent is applicable in a SAR mission.