Faculty Collaboration Database

Refusal of Emergency Medical Treatment: Case Studies and Ethical Foundations. Ann Emerg Med 2017 Nov;70(5):696-703

Date

06/01/2017

Pubmed ID

28559033

DOI

10.1016/j.annemergmed.2017.04.015

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-85019758861 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   15 Citations

Abstract

Informed consent is an important component of emergency medical treatment. Most emergency department patients can provide informed consent for treatment upon arrival. Informed consent should also be obtained for emergency medical interventions that may entail significant risk. A related concept to informed consent is informed refusal of treatment. Patients may refuse emergency medical treatment during their evaluation and treatment. This article addresses important considerations for patients who refuse treatment, including case studies and discussion of definitions, epidemiology, assessment of decisional capacity, information delivery, medicolegal considerations, and alternative care plans.

Author List

Marco CA, Brenner JM, Kraus CK, McGrath NA, Derse AR, ACEP Ethics Committee

Author

Arthur R. Derse MD, JD Director, Professor in the Institute for Health and Equity department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adult
Decision Making
Disclosure
Emergency Medicine
Emergency Service, Hospital
Female
Foundations
Humans
Informed Consent
Male
Mental Competency
Middle Aged
Treatment Refusal
Young Adult