title: Informed refusal and patient autonomy: using reflection to examine how nursing knowledge and theory affect attitudes.
abstract: Reflection is a medium increasingly being used in nursing to explore critical incidents, promote learning and integrate theory and practice. In this paper reflection is used to explore the influences of different types of nursing knowledge and theory upon reactions to informed refusal of treatment and the concept of patient autonomy. The paper contains consideration of the care of a Jehovah's Witness and her family who refused a badly-needed blood transfusion.
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Briggs
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D002835:Christianity; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent; D008875:Middle Aged; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000523:psychology*; D009742:Nursing Theory; D016312:Treatment Refusal