Legal consequences of refusing treatment

Refusal of treatment is one of the logical reasons for obtaining consent from the patient. However, in situations where refusal to receive medical services entails serious harm to the patient or other members of society, based on jurisprudence and legal principles, the patient's right to make decisions in the treatment process will be limited. Accordingly, this research aimed to find the answer to the question that when the patient's refusal to receive medical services poses a serious challenge to his own health or other members of society, what legal consequences this patient's decision will have for him or his family.

Descriptive and analytical method was used in this theoretical research. Data was collected in libraries by referring to documents, books, and articles.

The findings of this research indicated that refusal to receive medical services, depending on whether it was done by the patient or his parents and representatives, could bring a wide range of legal consequences.

Refusal to receive medical services by the patient's representatives, in addition to fulfilling their civil responsibility towards the patient as well as towards third parties, can lead to the loss of their position and also affect the level of personal liability. On the other hand, refusing to receive medical services by the patient, in addition to realizing the patient's civil responsibility towards third parties, can have harmful effects on his will and his inheritance relationship with his wife.