19th April 2022

You are an FY2 doctor working a medical shift on call

You are an FY2 doctor working a medical shift on call. One of the patients on the short stay unit is awaiting a lumbar puncture, prior to discharge. The hospital has been very busy, and as such the patient has now been waiting three days for the procedure. The discharge sister bleeps you to ask if you can do the lumbar puncture, as the registrar is “too busy”. You have never performed this procedure, but have witnessed and assisted on several occasions.

Which of the following is the best course of action?

Select the SINGLE most appropriate option from the list below. Select ONE option only.