In 30% of cases, the reason could be traced to the woman with cancer, such as failure to keep appointments or
refusal of therapy.
But I was told that "all hell had broken loose." There had been an apparent breakdown in communications at the rehab unit, where the caseworker had told the family early that morning that Virginia was being transferred to private-pay effective immediately because of her
refusal of therapy for the third time.
Referring physicians identified perceived problems, including (a) a cumbersome referral process, (b) delays in getting appointments, (c) difficulty obtaining information from the therapist or BRCC, (d) patients'
refusal of therapy, and (e) a lack of understanding of the referral process.
Physicians are morally and legally required to honor a competent patient's rational
refusal of therapy. The moral and legal requirement to honor a refusal does not extend, however, to honoring a patient's request for specific therapy or other acts.