title: When the patient says no.
abstract: The need to ascertain appropriate decision-making capacity is greatest when dealing with refusals of lifesaving or life-prolonging treatment. This may be complicated by delirium, concurrent depression, metabolic disturbances or significant symptom burden, family conflicts, and social issues. This is a case of a 48-year-old patient with a long-standing history of a symptomatic pan-invasive pituitary adenoma who refused life-prolonging treatment. Ultimately, a patient must be able to understand the information given to him, evaluate the consequences of the options presented, deliberate on these options based on his values, communicate this choice, and maintain consistency overtime. These refusals of treatment may fluctuate with time and intensity of the illness. Denial of this right of autonomy and self-determination may worsen the individual's physical and existential suffering.
authors: Section of Palliative Medicine and Supportive Oncology, Taussig Cancer Center, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA.
authors: Maria Aileen
authors: MA
authors: Soriano
authors: Ruth
authors: R
authors: Lagman
mesh_terms: D003142:Communication; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent; D016743:Mental Competency / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D012297:Right to Die; D019452:Terminally Ill / Q000523:psychology*; D016312:Treatment Refusal / Q000941:ethics / Q000523:psychology*