Is it ethical to stop treatment if the patient is not able to pay?

Asked by: Muriel Windler  |  Last update: November 9, 2025
Score: 4.6/5 (4 votes)

Legal and Ethical Considerations The concepts of beneficence and nonmaleficence are the embedded in the clinician-patient relationship. Delinquent patients can be discharged except in emergencies, although clinicians are responsible for the treatment of patients until other medical help is available to them.

Can doctors refuse to treat patients who can't pay?

Ability to Pay

Some medical providers may consider refusing to treat because of the patient's inability to pay for treatment. Generally, in non-emergency situations, this is allowed. A private internist, for example, might refuse to schedule a patient's appointment if that patient has unpaid medical bills.

Can you refuse to see a patient if they owe money?

Unless there is a state law to the contrary, although non-payment is a valid reason to terminate a patient, a patient cannot be refused care while still in the practice because they have not yet paid. This would actually constitute “internal abandonment.”

What are the ethical issues when a patient refuses treatment?

Abandoning a requirement for consent is an emergency exception to the ethical and legal principles and comes into play only when a person lacks decision-making capacity. In some instances, it may be unclear whether a patient has this capacity, confounding the physician's management decisions.

Is it ethical for a physician to terminate patient care?

Physicians also may ethically discharge patients for financial reasons such as chronic nonpayment of medical bills or repeated failure to keep appointments. However, physicians should be mindful of their responsibility to mitigate health inequities for patients from under-resourced communities.

Anorexia: When Is It Ethical to Stop Treatment?

20 related questions found

Can you dismiss a patient for non-payment?

Physicians may decide to dismiss a patient for a variety of reasons such as nonpayment, non-compliance and/or inappropriate behavior.

Is it ethical to leave a patient in pain?

To allow a patient to experience unbearable pain or suffering is unethical medical practice” [19]. This principle was gradually extended from end-of-life care to cancer pain care, and then to chronic noncancer pain care.

What is the most significant ethical violation in healthcare?

One of the biggest legal and ethical issues in healthcare is patient privacy and confidentiality. This is why 15% of survey respondents noted that doctor-patient confidentiality is their top ethical issue in practicing medicine.

Can a patient legally refuse treatment?

All adults with decision-making capacity (i.e. able to make decisions for themselves) have the right to accept or decline medical treatment—even if decisions may result in a poor outcome, including death.

Can we give treatment to patient who refuses treatment?

If a person does not have the capacity to make a decision about their treatment and they have not appointed a lasting power of attorney (LPA), the healthcare professionals treating them can go ahead and give treatment if they believe it's in the person's best interests.

Can a doctor refuse to treat a non-compliant patient?

These noncompliant patients increasingly will find themselves rejected by physicians, as current legal and ethical standards generally grant physicians full autonomy in deciding which patients to treat.

Can hospitals turn you away if you can't pay?

Because of EMTALA, you can't be denied a medical screening exam or treatment for an emergency medical condition based on: If you have health insurance or not. If you can pay for treatment.

Can a doctor be sued for not treating a patient?

Doctors are required to provide ongoing care once a doctor–patient relationship has been established. Suppose your condition requires follow-up. If your doctor doesn't take the necessary steps, they may be liable for medical malpractice if their lack of care causes injury or death.

Is it unethical for a doctor to refuse to treat a patient?

Justice dictates that physicians provide care to all who need it, and it is illegal for a physician to refuse services based on race, ethnicity, gender, religion, or sexual orientation. But sometimes patients request services that are antithetical to the physician's personal beliefs.

What do you do when patients cannot pay?

9 ways to help patients when they can't afford care
  1. Have the money conversation.
  2. Get creative with your scheduling.
  3. Offer a payment plan.
  4. Create a sliding fee scale.
  5. Accept what they can offer.
  6. See them pro bono.
  7. Refer them or help them find assistance.
  8. Barter.

What is it called when a patient refuses treatment?

Informed refusal is where a person has refused a recommended medical treatment based upon an understanding of the facts and implications of not following the treatment. Informed refusal is linked to the informed consent process, as a patient has a right to consent, but also may choose to refuse.

Can a doctor refuse to treat a patient for non-payment?

When patients are unable to afford medical services, those services can be denied by a medical professional. In fact, this is one of the most common reasons why doctors exercise their limited right to refuse treatment. A doctor's right to refuse care is limited in several ways.

Can a patient be refused treatment due to ability to pay for service?

Private doctors can refuse to provide treatment to new patients if: The doctor's office is not accepting any new patients. You are unable to pay for the costs of the treatment you need. The doctor's office does not take your health insurance.

Can doctors treat patients for free?

One legal way to provide free services is through a free clinic. These clinics have been approved by the appropriate governmental agencies and therefore are legally allowed to provide free services. There are other legally approved free or reduced service programs (like the Lion's Club for eye exams).

What are the 4 ethical principles of healthcare?

Beneficence, nonmaleficence, autonomy, and justice constitute the 4 principles of ethics.

What are the top 10 ethical dilemmas in healthcare?

The major 10 ethical issues, as perceived by the participants in order of their importance, were: (1) Patients' Rights, (2) Equity of resources, (3) Confidentiality of the patients, (4) Patient Safety, (5) Conflict of Interests, (6) Ethics of privatization, (7) Informed Consent, (8) Dealing with the opposite sex, (9) ...

Why are DNR orders an ethical issue?

Further, several examples of ethical dilemmas in relation to DNR-decisions in cancer care were found, such as conflicts of interest between the wish to do good and reduce suffering in the patient versus prolonging life and respect patient autonomy [15].

Is it ever ethical to treat someone who refuses treatment?

If a patient's illness is affecting their capacity to refuse care, and they are considered a danger to themselves or to others, the healthcare provider is expected to treat the patient regardless of their refusal.

What is the golden rule of treating a patient's pain?

Simple Ways to Better Communicate with a Patient in Pain

I follow the Golden Rule in how I treat my patients, and I teach medical students do so the same: do unto others as you would want them to do unto you. It is simple but often forgotten amid the daily complexities of being a physician.

What is an ethical violation in healthcare?

For example, withholding information about a patient's condition could be unethical because it could harm the patient or someone else. The opposite can be harmful too. A health practitioner could be suspended or, in some cases, fired for posting information about cases on social media.