A 22-year-old woman in her first pregnancy with an unremarkable prenatal course presents with preterm labor at 28 weeks gestation. Her contractions were successfully stopped with terbutaline. Discharge planning was reviewed with her, and she was instructed to follow a regimen of bedrest and oral terbutaline. She reported that she did not intend to comply with these instructions. She believed that God would not allow her to labor unless it was time for the baby to deliver, and she indicated that He had communicated this to her.

A 29-year-old woman had an obstetrical ultrasound at 33 weeks to follow-up a previous finding of a low-lying placenta. Although the placental location was now acceptable, the amniotic fluid index (AFI) was noted to be 8.9 cm. Subsequent monitoring remained reassuring until 38.5 weeks, when the AFI was 6 cm. The patient declined the recommendation to induce labor, and also refused to present for any further monitoring. She stated that she did not believe in medical interventions. Nevertheless, she continued with her prenatal visits.

A 16-year-old female presents to a family physician to obtain a referral for family therapy. She is estranged from her mother and stepfather, who see the same physician. For many years, this patient responsibly cared for her four younger siblings while their single mother worked. Since her mother's marriage, the family has become involved in a fundamentalist church. The patient moved out when she felt the social and moral restrictions of the family's religion were too burdensome for her. The patient seemed quite mature; she maintained a 3.5 GPA, along with a part-time job.

During a visit to her family physician, a 35-year-old woman discloses that she suffers from anorexia nervosa. She complains of fatigue, dizziness, depression, headaches, irregular menses, and environmental allergies. Each day, she uses 15 to 60 laxatives, exercises for several hours, and eats a salad or half a sandwich. At 5'2", she weighs 88 pounds. She demonstrates a good understanding of the diagnosis and the recommended therapy for anorexia. Despite receiving a variety of resource information, the patient refuses any medical intervention.

A middle-aged woman diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia has refused chemotherapy for her condition. She is educated, articulate and quite aware that she will certainly die without treatment. She is upset by her diagnosis, but is not depressed. Her close family wishes she would accept treatment because they do not want her to die, but even so, they honor her refusal. She understands that her death will likely be painful and may be prolonged and requests a supply of barbiturates that she might use to take her life when the appropriate time comes.