Forcing patient to take medicine

 Igros Moshe (CM II #73.5) Question What can be done if patient refuses to take medicine? Answer It depends on the reason. If he simply has given up hope of ever recovering or is suffering now and doesn’t want to continue suffering even though he believes the doctors who say that  he will eventually recover then he should be pressured to take the medicine. However if it is because he doesn’t believe his doctors, then a doctor that he believes should be found. If no such doctor can be found and there is not enough time given his illness to send him to a different hospital that he wants, then it is necessary for his doctors to force him to take the medicine as long as all of his doctors say this is the correct treatment.  All this is only if he will not complain about it. If he has complains even if they are nonsense than he should not be forced since this might result in harm to him or even death  and thus it would be an act of murder. This is true even if the relatives want him to be forced.  This of course needs to be thoroughly discussed by his doctors because forcing an adult is not likely to be very beneficial and if done must be done without ulterior motives. An additional consideration is whether there is any danger to take this medicine – even if it a standard practice – it should never be given against the wishes of the patient. It is also important that the doctor evaluates that the danger from the medicine is actually less for this patient than the danger of the disease. That means that only if at least 50% of other patients in this condition are cured by this dangerous medicine can it be given with the patients consent. These decisions can only be made after all the doctors have thoroughly  discussed the matter and consulted with experts because  these evaluations are very difficult even for the leading specialists.