The Turkish Journal of Pediatrics
2014 , Vol 56 , Num 6
Refusal of Medical Treatment in the Pediatric Emergency Service: Analysis of Reasons and Aspects
Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Research and Training Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. E-mail address: halidhalil@yahoo.com
Refusal of treatment for acutely ill children is still an important problem
in the emergency service. When families refuse medical treatment for their
acutely ill children, healthcare professionals may attempt to provide information
and negotiate with the family concerning treatment refusal and its possible
adverse outcomes, and request consent for refusal of medical treatment. There
is insufficient data about refusal of treatment in our country. The purpose
of this study was to analyze the causes of treatment refusal in the pediatric
emergency service. We collected data recorded on informed consent forms.
During a 2-year-study period, 215 patients refused treatment recommended
by acute health care professionals. The majorty of patients were in the 0–2
year age group. Hospitalization was the type of treatment most commonly
refused; restrictions regarding family members staying with their children during
hospitalization and admission to another hospital were the major reasons for
refusal of treatment. Clarifying the reasons for treatment refusal may help
us to overcome deficiencies, improve conditions, resolve problems and build
confidence between healthcare providers and service users, increasing users’
satisfaction in the future.
Keywords :
treatment refusal, pediatric emergency service, informed consent.