Death By Stubbornness: What’s A Doctor To Do?

Over the years that I’ve worked in acute inpatient rehab centers, I have been truly vexed by a particular type of patient. Namely, the stubborn patient (usually an elderly gentleman with a military or armed forces background). I know that it’s not completely fair to generalize about personality types, but it seems that the very nature of their work has either developed in them a steely resolve, or they were attracted to their profession because they possessed the right temperament for it. Either way, when they arrive in the rehab unit after some type of acute illness or traumatic event, it is very challenging to cajole them into health. I suspect that I am failing quite miserably at it, frankly. Nothing is more depressing for a rehab physician than to see a patient decline because they refuse to participate in activities that are bound to improve their condition. Prolonged immobility is a recipe for disaster, especially in the frail elderly. Refusal to eat and get out of bed regularly can make the difference between life and death within a matter of days as leg clots begin to form, and infectious diseases take hold of a body in a weakened state. The downward spiral of illness and debility is familiar to all physicians, but is particularly disappointing when the underlying cause appears to be patient stubbornness. Of course, the patient may not be well enough to grasp the “big picture” consequences of their decisions. And I certainly do not pretend to u...
Source: Better Health - Category: Health Medicine and Bioethics Commentators Authors: Tags: Opinion True Stories Acute Inpatient Rehab anorexia Downward Spiral Ex-military Infection Motivation Patient Autonomy Physical Medicine And Rehabilitation Physical Therapy Police Officers Psychiatry Stubbornness Veterans Wive Source Type: blogs