•Patient has the right to refuse treatment
•Competent
patients have the legal and moral right to refuse treatment, even in
life-threatening emergency situations.
• In
such cases informed refusal must be obtained and documented, over the patient's
witnessed signature.
• It
may be advisable that two doctors document the reason for non-performance of
life-saving surgery or treatment as express refusal by the patient or the authorised representative and
inform the hospital administrator about the same.
•To
detain an adult patient against his will in a hospital is unlawful.
•If
a patient demands discharge from hospital against medical advice, this should
be recorded, and his signature obtained.
•Patient
is free to withdraw his consent anytime
When consent is
withdrawn during the performance of a procedure, the procedure should be
stopped. The doctor may address to patient's concerns and may continue the
treatment only if the patient agrees. If stopping a procedure at that point
puts patient's life in danger, the doctor may continue with the procedure till
such a risk no longer exists
