Abstract
Just as the psychiatrist does not have the absolute right to impose treatment on an unwilling patient, the patient does not have the absolute right to refuse treatment. Only in a case where the patient is mentally incompetent can the physician treat him over the patient's objection. Almost all legal activity in the area of right to refuse treatment has involved court decisions.
Legislatures have tended to avoid the issue. It would be best for both the psychiatrist and patient for psychiatrists to concentrate on patients obtaining adequate treatment instead of attacking their right to refuse treatment.
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