Much has been written on parental involvement in decision making when dealing with
critically ill children, but few articles have touched upon parental refusal of treatment
in noncritically ill children. What steps should be taken when a parent refuses what
is generally considered “standard of care” medicine for their hospitalized child?
Does medical advice outweigh parental views or wishes, and what does one do when our
role as physician turns from medical expert into one of medical negotiator? The following
case and discussion deal with parental refusal of conventional medical care, and how
one may find peaceful resolutions to challenging situations for the ultimate good
of the child.
Neonate - refusal of treatment - conflict resolution
