If a patient declines a recommended treatment, what is the ethical course of action?

• A. Ignore the decision and push forward.
• B. Push for reconsideration immediately.
• C. Respect the decision, document the discussion, and offer alternatives.
• D. Deny future care.

Answer: (C)

The main idea here is honoring patient autonomy. When someone declines a recommended treatment, the ethical path is to respect that decision, ensure they understand the risks and benefits, and document the discussion clearly. It’s also important to assess that the patient has decisional capacity and to involve a surrogate only if capacity is lacking. After acknowledging the decision, you offer realistic, acceptable alternatives that align with the patient’s goals and values, and you continue to provide care within the limits of what they consent to. This approach preserves trust, avoids coercion, and supports ongoing care and safety.

Pushing for reconsideration immediately or ignoring the patient's choice would undermine autonomy and damage the therapeutic relationship, while offering alternatives keeps the focus on patient-centered, respectful care.