title: Refusal of surgery in an insured population.
abstract: Among 195 people who did not have recommended elective surgery in which a second opinion was required, virtually all indicated they were not going to have the operation and did not want a second opinion. The extent to which this decision adversely affected their health status and well-being and the extent to which alternate treatments were tried are examined. The findings also highlight the discretionary nature of patient and physician decision making.
authors.affiliation: Cornell University Medical College.
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Finkel
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Ruchlin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003625:Data Collection; D003657:Decision Making; D003710:Demography; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010358:Patient Participation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013043:Specialties, Surgical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016312:Treatment Refusal / Q000523:psychology*; D014481:United States