Real life ethics

摘要

We were very interested to read the case report in the April1 issue of the journal. It highlights the importance of patient autonomy and of allowing patients to make their own decisions regarding future care. What is concerning in the case described is that the patient's specific wishes were not followed. The patient had explicitly stated she did not wish to be hospitalised and wanted nature to take its course. However, when the patient was very unwell and became unconscious, the decision was made by the GP to hospitalise the patient (albeit not the hospital she had stated that she did not wish to be admitted to) 25 miles away from her home.