Patient's Will & Doctor's Duty

Patient's Will & Doctor's Duty
2007.05.18 22:54

One of my friends who works as interpreter showed me a card -blood transfusion refusal card. He showed his intention in the card to refuse not only blood transfusion itself but also blood products. Do doctors respect his will? If doctors found alternative measures, they can avoid using blood to patients. But how about the case there's no alternative other than using blood transfusion, blood products. Any patients have a right to direct the kinds of treatment doctors can do. At the same time doctors have a right to either refuse or respect patient's will. I don't think patients' will can affect doctor's dicision if there's no alternatives. It might be fulfil patient's will to accept their wish, but it is against the ethics of doctors. It is doctor's duty to do his best. Doctors can do whatever they want in a matter related to life.