Mrs A, a 68-year-old woman, was hospitalized with anemia, lower leg edema and ascites. She lives with her son who came to the hospital to see his mother later. The physician met with the patient and her son and said to Mrs A: ‘Your hemoglobin level six months ago was 12, but now it is only 4. Your anemia may possibly be caused by stomach bleeding, so further workup and endoscopy is necessary. If not treated, terrible problems might occur, and no treatment means you will likely die’.
The patient, however, refused the treatment by saying that she was too old, and the gastric camera was terrifying. The son also said, ‘I want to respect my mother’s decision. I knew that her legs and her abdomen were swollen but because of her age I did not want her to be brought to hospital. As far as she does not want treatment, I agree with her.’