title: Refusal of treatment.
abstract: Patients' thoughts, feelings and desires are communicated in a variety of ways, and require sympathetic, critical interpretation. Patients need clear, evidence-based medical information so that they can make their own decisions about whether to consent to or refuse medical treatment. Treatment refusal may provide an opportunity to introduce patients to advance care planning. Unconscious motivations in doctors may obstruct good clinical decision-making. Although respect for the patient's responsibility to make healthcare decisions should be a condition of the clinical relationship, healthcare decision-making is a collaborative process.
authors: Queensland Medical Education Centre, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Queensland, Herston.
authors: M H
authors: MH
authors: Parker
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Tobin
mesh_terms: D016223:Advance Directives; D000368:Aged; D003142:Communication; D003657:Decision Making; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D016312:Treatment Refusal / Q000523:psychology