DrVirgo
Forum Hero
Topics: 1096
Posts: 3,515
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What do you do in a case where you have repeatedly tried to nicely and carefully explain that you absolutely must do a physical exam and the patient refuses over and over again???
Can there be a patient trained to do this? and then we just write: "Patient refuses Physical Exam" in the physical exam note, OR
do we HAVE TO keep trying to convince him to have a physical done???
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| CocaCola
Forum Guru
Topics: 35
Posts: 908
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Can't force the patient...
note it in the patient note...
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| piewackett
Forum Newbie
Topics: 0
Posts: 3
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Any patient may of course refuse a physical or any part of a physical or procedure. They have every right to not take meds, walk out of the ED or hospital, drink until their liver falls out their rectum in a tiny shriveled mass or take any substances (with or without the draino) they please...
OUR responsibility is to be non-judgemental and to make sure all their self destructive behaivor and refusals are made as informed decisions. You can coax, cajole and bargain, but beware- some patients take advantage of the time, some do really need councel and it can give a impression that we are not in charge and it can appear unprofessional.
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