patient compliance

…patient with a life-threatening illness refuses treatment, should his wishes be respected? Should patients always be permitted to refuse the use of extraordinary life-support measures? These questions become more complicated when the patient is incapable of making rational decisions in his own interest, as in the case of infants and…

…factor affecting therapeutic success is patient compliance—the degree to which patients adhere to the regimen recommended by their physician. Therapeutic regimens that require significant changes in lifestyle, such as recommendations to follow a special diet, begin an exercise program, or discontinue harmful habits such as smoking cigarettes, are likely to…