In this critical situation, the ethical principle of beneficence—prioritizing the patient's life—outweighs strict adherence to protocols, as delaying surgery guarantees death, while proceeding offers a chance of survival despite the lack of explicit consent. Bypassing protocols involves risks such as legal repercussions and erosion of trust in AI systems, but the immediate stakeholder, Juan Martinez, faces certain death otherwise, and emergency medical ethics often allow for implied consent in life-threatening scenarios. Negotiating with protesters introduces uncertainty and potential further delay, which could be fatal, and upholding protocols rigidly would neglect the duty to preserve life, affecting not only the patient but also the medical staff and society's expectation of compassionate care.