Master 35 Thoracic Surgeon interview questions covering surgical expertise, clinical judgment, and patient outcomes.
Question 33 of 35
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Krista Wenz has been on thousands of interview panels hiring EMS professionals and firefighters for public and private agencies.
With informed consent, it is the patient's right to refuse any treatment, even if it would save their life. As a surgeon, you will explain the risks and benefits of the procedure, but it is still the patient's right to refuse. You may try to initiate the help of the patient's family to get them to reconsider, or you might recommend the patient receive a second opinion. Overall, you cannot force the patient to do something they refuse. The interviewer wants to hear how you would handle this situation.

Krista Wenz has been on thousands of interview panels hiring EMS professionals and firefighters for public and private agencies.
"When I have a patient refuse a life-saving procedure, I make sure they are mentally aware and able to comprehend the situation. If they are of sound mind and refuse, I reiterate that they will not survive without this procedure. I want them to understand the severity of their illness and the repercussions if they do not undergo surgery. If my patient has family members present, I ask for the family to try to convince them. I also recommend that the patient seek a second opinion and think about what I have told them before making a decision. In the end, if the patient still refuses, I need to accept their decision as it is their basic human right to refuse."

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Written by Krista Wenz
35 Questions & Answers • Thoracic Surgeon

By Krista

By Krista