Refusal of medical assistance

This article is about voluntary refusal of medical assistance by patients. For refusal to treat a patient, see Omission (criminal law) § Failure to provide medical treatment.

In emergency medical services such as an ambulance squad, a pre-hospital refusal of medical assistance (RMA) is the term for when a patient refuses any or all parts of medical treatment. In some parts of the United States, it is known as “patient refusal”[1] The term “refusal of medical assistance” (RMA) specifically refers to situations in the pre-hospital setting, such as when a patient declines care during ambulance pickup. This is part of a broader concept of patients refusing, delaying, or limiting medical treatments, which can also occur in other medical settings, including doctor’s offices and hospitals.[2]

In some systems in the United States, pre-hospital refusal of medical assistance (RMA) rates as high as 26% have been reported.[3]

  1. ^ Weaver, Jay, Kathryn H. Brinsfield, and Deanne Dalphond. "PREHOSPITAL REFUSAL-OF-TRANSPORT POLICIES: ADEQUATE LEGAL PROTECTION?." Prehospital Emergency Care 4.1 (2000): 53-56
  2. ^ Linnard-Palmer, Luanne, and Ellen Christiansen. Against Medical Advice: Addressing Treatment Refusal. Sigma Theta Tau Int’l, 2021. ISBN 978-1646480500.
  3. ^ Burstein, Jonathan L. "Refusal of Care in the Prehospital Setting." Advanced Emergency Nursing Journal 21.1 (1999): 38-42.