Physician's Responsibility toward the Hopelessly Ill

To the Editor: In a number of places in their article Wanzer et al. properly highlight the need to ascertain a patient's wishes concerning treatments that may be available (April 12 issue). 1 What needs to be emphasized is that once the patient's desires regarding treatment or nontreatment are known, they must be respected, regardless of the family's or physician's feelings on the matter. At times, the patient (whether currently or previously competent) may make or have made choices the physician does not agree with. When this occurs the physician must not abandon the patient but may refer him or her . . . No extract is available for articles shorter than 400 words.