Kidney disease and dialysis

A 36-year-old woman has kidney disease and dialysis is needed to survive. She refuses the dialysis treatment because she is scared and believes it is too invasive. Her doctor describes the treatment to her in detail, explains that there are no alternatives that would be helpful for her condition, and tells her that she may die without dialysis. She is competent to make decisions about her treatment.

She has a 15-year-old daughter who lives at home with her. The doctor feels very strongly that she should receive dialysis, but she continues to refuse despite repeated attempts to obtain her consent.

What can the doctor do to treat this patient?

Do you think the doctor should respect the patient’s autonomy in this life-threatening situation? Why or why not?

Do you believe the patient is making an informed decision? Is there anything else the doctor can do to inform the patient about the risks and benefits of treatment?

Do you think the daughter should be considered in this c