How to engage with patients

ByDr Udvitha Nandasoma

Published24 November 2016

For whatever reason, there are situations where a patient doesn't engage with their treatment. Here we consider a typical scenario in order to answer some common questions.

The key consideration for any clinician facing this type of situation is simply that they can justify the decision they make.

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Dr Udvitha Nandasoma

Head of advisory services

BA MBBChir MRCP (UK) LLB(Hons)(Open) PhD MFFLM Dr Nandasoma joined the MDU as a medico-legal adviser in 2008 after completing specialist training in gastroenterology. He became head of advisory services in 2022 and was a practising hepatologist until early 2023.

Dr Carol Chu

MDU Medico-legal adviser

MB, ChB, MSc (Medical genetics), MD, MRCPI, MPhil (Medical Law) DLM Carol qualified at Sheffield University. She attained her CCST in clinical genetics and spent 13 years as a consultant clinical geneticist, the last six of these also being the Head of Department, managing not only the clinical department; doctors, counsellors and administrative staff (including records) but also the three laboratories. She left the NHS to pursue a longstanding interest in medical ethics and medical law as a medicolegal adviser for the MDU in 2011. She was also chair of a research ethics committee for 10 years.