Question

Can a surgeon refuse to operate on an intravenous drug-abusing patient with recurrent aortic valve prosthesis infection? Or for that mater, should a surgeon be able to refuse to perform any surgery on a chemically dependent individual?

Answer 1

Yes the Surgeon can refuse to operate on an Intravenous drug-abusing patient with recurrent aortic valve prosthesis infection as there are plenty of ethical, logical, and moral reasons that allow a surgeon the right to say no.

Even the Hippocratic oath says that-

I will prescribe regimens for the good of my patients according to my ability and judgment and never do harm to anyone.”

Surgeon has the right and responsibility to assess the situation, circumstances, probabilities, and likely outcomes, and to determine whether he believes an operation is futile or not. Just because the patient wants a procedure does not require a surgeon to perform it.