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Expectant category — DIPIMC MCQ

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HardMajor Incident ManagementExpectant categoryDIPIMCDipIMC

During a mass-casualty incident with resources overwhelmed, you encounter a casualty with injuries so severe that survival is very unlikely even with maximal effort, while many salvageable patients await care. Which course of action best reflects appropriate major incident triage?

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Correct answer: D — Assign an expectant category and provide comfort measures

In a major incident where resources are overwhelmed, an expectant category recognises casualties unlikely to survive even with maximal care, who receive comfort and palliative measures while resources are concentrated on those who can be saved. Committing the whole team to one unsalvageable patient costs other lives, yet withholding comfort is neither necessary nor humane. Reassigning to Priority 1 misuses scarce resources. Pearl: expectant decisions are among the hardest in major incident care and should be made by senior clinicians and reviewed as resources change.

Reference: MIMMS; Faculty of Pre-Hospital Care (RCSEd)