If there is no family or Medical Power of Attorney, who is responsible for making decisions about life-sustaining treatment?

The correct answer is that the treating physician and an uninvolved second doctor are responsible for making decisions about life-sustaining treatment when there is no family or Medical Power of Attorney available. This process is guided by state laws, including Texas law, which provides a framework for determining who has the authority to make health care decisions in the absence of advance directives.

When a patient is unable to make decisions about their own medical care and there is no designated decision-maker, the law typically allows the treating physician to make appropriate medical decisions in conjunction with another physician who is not involved in the patient's treatment. This "uninvolved second doctor" serves as a safeguard to ensure that the decision made by the treating physician is clinically justified and respects the patient's best interests. Ultimately, their collective decision is focused on what would be in the best interest of the patient, taking into consideration medical ethics and the patient's rights.

The other choices do not align with the legal framework governing medical decision-making in situations where no advance directive or family member is available to make health care decisions. For instance, the involvement of a Chief Medical Officer or hospital administrator in such decisions is not standard procedure. They do not usually have the authority to make medical decisions for patients under these circumstances.