Doctor, I Want You to Do Everything

Abstract

Over the past decade, there has been an increased recognition and respect for patient autonomy. This has resulted in greater emphasis in hospitals on obtaining proper informed consent from patients as well as an increased focus on patient’s rights. But we have reached the limits of autonomy when a patient or surrogate demands that a specific operation or procedure be done even though the physician is opposed to it on medical grounds and has made clear to them the futility of the procedure.