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All adult patients with decision-making capacity have a right to consent to or refuse medical or surgical treatment that is recommended by a doctor.
Doctors can incorporate advance care planning discussions as a routine part of care.
- Informed consent is based on the premise that patients understand their illness as well as the possible interventions, the benefits and burdens of such treatment and the consequences of not accepting that treatment.
- It is appropriate to respect a patient’s informed refusal of treatment even if it is a decision that the doctor may not necessarily agree with
- If a patient has indicated that they want less treatment than a doctor is offering, it is important that the doctor explore their reasons for this.
- A discussion that considers the medical treatment offered in the context of a patient’s values and goals may clarify a patient’s reasons for wanting less treatment. It may also lead to a discussion about the future medical treatments that a patient would want if they were unable to make decisions for themselves.
- A doctor may also engage in further discussion as to a patient’s reasoning as this can also inform a judgement as to the patient’s capacity to make medical decisions.
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