Patient declines mammogram because they cause cancer - requesting an US instead. What do you do?
Fortunately I don't have to decide because she sees GYN who orders the US. They asked me today to but I refused and asked them to get order from GYN.
I had some teeth cleaning done once and dentist explained to me a similar concept in their practice. Deep cleaning was recommended to a patient, they declined so dentist just did basic cleaning. Patient had bad outcome. Dentist got sued because they offered the wrong treatment which led to bad outcome.
Granted this isn't treatment, it's a diagnostic screening test. But in my mind it's similar. If I order the wrong test and something is missed, I imagine I would be held liable for ordering the wrong test even though the patient knowingly declines. Am I right to refuse offering any testing or am I being too extra about this?
Thanks!!