National Adult Literacy Database

December 2, 2002

The following story was written by Debra, from Toronto, Ontario. Debra was born in Grenada. She has been living in Canada for almost eleven years. She likes reading, singing, going to church, and meeting different people. Debra is the mother of two children. She received an award for the year for doing volunteer work at the St. Claire West Residence for Seniors.

Can Doctors Refuse to Treat Patients?

by Debra

Here are the Pros and Con about can doctors refuse to treat patients who don't follow their advice.

Patients should stop smoking when dealing with smoking related illnesses. Doctors have a freedom of choice. Suppose a doctor is telling someone to stop smoking because they're having a problem breathing and the problem is caused by them smoking. Suppose that person does not want to stop, and every Monday morning they are back at his office with the same problem. The doctor will be frustrated. He has the right to tell that person, "Don't come back."

People have a choice, and when they use their choice to harm their body, they pay. They know it is wrong and should suffer the consequences for their action. If they want help to get better, that's fine. If they don't, then they should go somewhere else where another doctor will put with their foolish actions.

Although the top points were in favour of the doctor's decision to refuse the patients, I think it is morally wrong for doctors to turn their backs on people who are sick, even though they don't take his advice. It is the doctor's job to treat a person when he or she is sick.

There are the reasons for my agreement and disagreement about why doctors should and should not refuse patients who don't want to stop smoking.

[This story was taken with permission, from EEL Today - A Collection of Student Articles, March 2002, published by East End Literacy.]