Patient refusal of care in the out-of-hospital setting.
A case vignette of out-of-hospital refusal of emergency care is reported with accompanying discussion. This case illustrates the challenges faced by out-of-hospital emergency care personnel in these scenarios and provides guidance to the emergency physician and emergency medical technician. Recommendations are provided for preparing the emergency medical services system to handle these cases.
Department of Emergency Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA. jgadams@bics.bwh.harvard.edu
J
J
Adams
V
V
Verdile
R
R
Arnold
R J
RJ
Ayres
J
J
Kosowsky
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003422:Critical Care; D003657:Decision Making; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000592:standards*; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007022:Hypotension / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D007258:Informed Consent; D016743:Mental Competency / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D014187:Transportation of Patients / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D016312:Treatment Refusal / Q000523:psychology; D014481:United States