Butting Heads: Patients Who Refuse Necessary Procedures

A patient's refusal to undergo a medical procedure may be life threatening and also may lead to feelings which damage the doctor-patient relationship. Efforts to engage in a direct struggle against the refusal often lead to further frustration whereas a more investigative approach often leads not only to an understanding of the causes hut also to ways of solving the dilemma. Cases are presented to illustrate these findings.