Refusal of care in vulnerable people: Case of the elderly
Neurosciences and Mental Health, Université de Rennes, France.\
Research Article
World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 2023, 18(03), 859–873
Article DOI: 10.30574/wjarr.2023.18.3.1136
Publication history:
Received on 05 May 2023; revised on 14 June 2023; accepted on 16 June 2023
Abstract:
Within the framework of the hospital, a medical act “can only be performed with the free and informed consent of the patient”. . . What are the levers for the healthcare professionals in order to have the care accepted? The problem that emerges from these first reflections is: “How can the healthcare professionals deal with a patient’s refusal of care?”
The patient has the right to withdraw his consent, such as refusing an act, treatment or care. The refusal of care questions professionals even about the very meaning of their mission. It challenges them on the Health professionals-patient relationship, on its foundation and raises many ethical questions: when should we or not accept not to provide care to a patient who refuses it?
How to obtain the consent of a patient who refuses care? Am I mistreating when I give a patient treatment that is essential to him?
For this work, certain aspects and or dimensions of the refusal of care in the elderly from the healthcare professional’s point of view and the role of Health professionals in dealing with this refusal but also on the legislation, ethics, deontology, law, the patient- healthcare professionals relationship, public health, as well as the contribution of multi-professional care in this context . Health care professionals will have to take into account these dimensions based on the patient's autonomy, dignity and vulnerability. while respecting their consent or non-consent to care despite their illness, with the aim of adherence to the care of their patient, maintaining a relationship of trust, engaging in dialogue will make it possible to find a compromise, and ultimately respect the patient's autonomy.
Keywords:
Care; Refusal of Care; Elderly; Healthcare Professionals; Consent; Legislation; Ethics; Public Health
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Copyright © 2023 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article. This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Liscense 4.0