Refusal of melanoma treatment: respecting autonomy without abandoning care

Key Points

• This exploration addresses the ethical balance between respecting patient autonomy and the duty of care in melanoma treatment decisions.
• Ethical analysis of a case involving a melanoma patient with decision-making capacity.
• Examination of the implications of informed refusal in a clinical setting.
• Discussion of professional responsibilities in the context of patient autonomy.
• Demonstrates that patients can ethically refuse treatment while still receiving support.
• Highlights the importance of understanding patient autonomy in medical ethics.