What happens when a patient refuses to get treatment?
Conversations like these can make physicians uncomfortable. When patients refuse recommended treatments, physicians are apt to worry not just about their patients’ health and if they are doing everything they can to help them, but also if they will be to blame if the patient suffers a poor outcome. This problem is neither new nor uncommon.
Can a patient refuse an urgent referral to a cardiologist?
The physician recommends an urgent referral to a cardiologist and gastroenterologist, but the patient refuses. The physician does not document the discussion or the reasons for the patient’s refusal. The patient subsequently suffers a myocardial infarction and dies.
When is a doctor's failure to follow up with a patient?
Failure to follow up with a new medication or new dosage Not communicating the urgency of tests, medications, treatments, or other medical advice There are situations in which a failure to follow up with a patient is not the fault of the doctor.
Can a doctor ignore a patient who refuses to have surgery?
But some doctors might conclude that it’s inappropriate to ignore the patient’s refusal because the patient was already blind and the procedure would just reverse a harm that’s already been done—not prevent one from happening. Our questions are designed to help physicians navigate this gray area.
What is the term used when a patient refuses to follow the doctors treatment plan?
The term “non-compliant patient” generally refers to a patient who intentionally refuses to take a prescribed medication or does not follow the doctor's treatment recommendations.
What happens if you don't follow doctors orders?
Your doctor's diagnosis and treatment plan are useless if you don't follow his or her advice. Patients who do not follow their doctors' orders, especially patients with chronic conditions, may experience health complications, rapid disease progression, decreased quality of life and even premature death.
Why do patients not adhere to medical advice?
Depending on the patient, provider, and situation, contributing factors may include the patient's social and economic status or education level, the complexity of the treatment and instructions, health system variables, poor provider communication, patient depression or stress, and physical or financial obstacles to ...
When you encounter a patient who refuses treatment you should?
When you encounter a patient who refuses treatment, you should: inform the patient of the consequences of that decision.
What is the term used to describe a patient who does not follow the medical advice given?
Noncompliant. The term used to describe a patient who does not follow the medical advice given.
What is intentional non adherence?
Intentional non˗adherence occurs when the patient decides not to follow the treatment recommendations. This is best understood in terms of the beliefs and preferences that influence the person's perceptions of the treatment and their motivation to start and continue with it.
Which term is used to describe when a patient does not follow the instructions for taking his or her medication's properly?
Medication nonadherence—when patients don't take their medications as prescribed—is unfortunately fairly common, especially among patients with chronic disease.
What is treatment noncompliance?
Non-compliance with treatment refers to the non-use or discontinuity of the treatment process and inattention or failure to follow the prescribed treatment by the patient.
How will you address the non compliance of your patient?
Here are some key verbal intervention tips for managing the noncompliant person:Maintain your rationality. ... Place responsibility where it belongs. ... Explain the directive. ... Set reasonable limits. ... Be prepared to enforce your limits. ... Don't stress the negative.
What is the right to refuse treatment called?
Under federal law, the Patient Self-Determination Act (PSDA) guarantees the right to refuse life sustaining treatment at the end of life.
What is refusal of medical treatment?
The right to refuse treatment applies to those who cannot make medical decisions for themselves, as well as to those who can; the only difference is how we protect the rights of people who cannot make decisions for themselves (see VEN's free handbook Making Medical Decisions for Someone Else).
What is refusal treatment?
This is a decision to refuse particular medical treatments for a time in the future when you may be unable to make such a decision. You can refuse a treatment that could potentially keep you alive (known as life-sustaining treatment).
Patient-Centered Care
Following Up
- Every patient will react differently to your recommended treatment plan—which may encompass lifestyle changes, diagnostic testing, or medication—and following up with the patient is key to encouraging adherence to that plan. During follow-up appointments, consider reviewing the treatment plan, the patient’s progress, and any barriers to adherence the patient may be encount…
Medication Prescribing and Monitoring
- Affordability of prescribed medication may be a factor in non-adherence, and has been found to affect one in 10 Canadians.3If this is an issue for a particular patient, consider proposing less expensive, but effective, alternatives—including the possible availability of generic versions rather than brand-name medications. The availability and standards regarding the use of e-prescribing …
The Bottom Line
- Consider the following strategies, which may encourage adherence by patients to your recommendations. 1. Communicate clearly and frankly with patients about why the treatment plan or lifestyle change is important and how best to implement a recommended course of action. Explore patients’ fears or concerns that might pose a barrier to carrying out the plan. 2. Use mult…
References
- Gheorghiu B, Nayani S. Medication adherence monitoring: implications for patients and providers. Healthcare Management Forum [Internet]. 2018 [cited 2019 Jan]; 31(3): 108-111. Available from: htt...
- Martin LR, Williams SL, Haskard KB, et al. The challenge of patient adherence. Ther Clin Risk Manag [Internet]. 2005 Sep [cited 2019 Jan]; 1(3):189-199. Available from: http://www.ncbi.nl…
- Gheorghiu B, Nayani S. Medication adherence monitoring: implications for patients and providers. Healthcare Management Forum [Internet]. 2018 [cited 2019 Jan]; 31(3): 108-111. Available from: htt...
- Martin LR, Williams SL, Haskard KB, et al. The challenge of patient adherence. Ther Clin Risk Manag [Internet]. 2005 Sep [cited 2019 Jan]; 1(3):189-199. Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/...
- Law MR, Cheng L, Dhalla IA, et al. The effect of cost on adherence to prescription medications in Canada. CMAJ. 2012;184(3):297-302. doi:10.1503/cmaj.1112704.
- Lanham A, Cochran GL KD. Electronic Prescriptions: Opportunities and Challenges for the Patient and Pharmacist. Adv Heal Care Technol. 2006;2:1-11. doi: https://doi.org/10.2147/AH…
