Author: Dr Kaisha Roser, CT3 Anaesthetics, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle-upon-Tyne

Patient autonomy is rightly a cornerstone of modern medical practice, but the reality of healthcare can present challenges when a patient’s ideals clash with a proposed treatment plan. 

A particularly delicate issue arises when an individual’s religious or cultural beliefs prohibit the use of particular medications or the ingredients within them. Respecting a patient’s values while ensuring effective treatment requires a collaborative approach with shared responsibility.

Recently, this matter was highlighted during the preoperative assessment of a male patient undergoing orthopaedic surgery. As part of the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocol, we discussed a multimodal approach to postoperative pain management, with an oral morphine solution identified as the primary analgesic option.