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Case 2

A 17 year-old NPC patient consented to radical radiation treatment for his cancer. Before signing the consent form, the doctor had provided information on treatment alternatives, risks and benefits of radiotherapy, details about the procedures, and possible side effects, to the patient and his parents. The doctor suggested that radiotherapy was the best treatment option for him. The patient and one of his parents signed the consent form and, two weeks later, the treatment started following essential procedures like making of a thermoplastic shell, CT localization and simulation, and planning of the treatment.

On the first day of treatment, the radiographer in charge explained the treatment procedures, the possible side-effects and corresponding care for the treatment site once again. However, within five weeks, side effects like loss of appetite, weakness, nausea, and erythema, had appeared gradually. The patient could not tolerate these side effects at all and wanted to end the treatment, so he decided to refuse the treatment when he met the doctor during the next review. Hearing this news, the doctor tried to persuade him to continue his treatment and asked his parents to force him to reconsider.

Discuss the ethical and legal implications of this case.