title: Patient withdrawal from medical treatment: a pilot study at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital. Part 1.
abstract: An overall incidence of patient withdrawal from medical treatment at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (K.A.T.H.) is established. A simple description of the procedure of withdrawal from treatment by patients at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital is made. Highlights of the rather curious procedure whereby patients may be discharged upon their relatives presenting letters claiming full responsibility for the patient's withdrawal from medical treatment, irrespective of whether or not the patient would benefit from treatment, is presented. The clinical ethical implications of that procedure are discussed. Further large scale work needs to be done to investigate the factors that influence decisions to withdraw and the disease models that attract more withdrawals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Behavioural Sciences, School of Medical Sciences U.S.T., Kumasi.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Appiah-Poku
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D005260:Female; D005869:Ghana; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution; D016312:Treatment Refusal / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*