Sometimes the doctor may encounter a patient who refuses the course of action or treatment due to a variety of reasons. For instance, the patient may refuse the recommended hospital care after surgery due to associated cost or a patient may have his own belief about the treatment. The problem may arise when a maternal patient or her family refuse to go for caesarean section in a decision regarding delivery. The patient’s decision about medical consent is always respected but, what to do if the physician’s recommendation is believed to be most beneficial for the patient?
How much should a physician push the patient for changing his mind? Can a physician involve patient’s family members or other physicians to consult the patient? What other strategies would you suggest?
