question about patient decision making

[Tammy90]

If we give a patient all the information about a procedure that they want but they are advised to not have, like a surgery, because of their circumstance, can the patient still push for the surgery? For example, if a patient had low albumin level which made her not a candidate for surgery and anesthesia but she is if she is fully aware of everything and the risks, even if the doctors do not advise it, that patient can still decide to want to do the surgery right? even if her chances of dying are high?

but only after the doctors have made a full understanding of there capacity in decision making right?

[SubSippi]

A patient can continue to look for a physician willing to perform a surgery. But no physician is obligated to perform any procedure or administer any treatment that he/she does not think is in the best interest of the patient.

Putting it another way a surgeon can refuse to do a surgery, it is not up to him/her to decide whether or not the patient is allowed to have the surgery at all.

[psu_213, BSN, RN]

The patient can do all the pushing they want for surgery. However it is risk versus benefit, and the surgeon has the final say on whether or not the surgery happens. The surgeon can choose not to do surgery even if the patient knows every possible risk and wants the surgery. Plus, in the end, it's the surgeons rear on the line if it goes poorly, even if the patient was 100% sure they wanted surgery even after knowing the risks.

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

If the surgeon deems a patient too high risk and denies the surgery... the patient can jump up and down all they want and it (usually) won't change that physician mind. If however the patient wishes to hunt for a surgeon who will take that risk... I would question the surgeons true capabilities, motives, and professionalism.