ABSTRACT
Treatment is a contract between the patient and the physician in which the interests of both must be considered. Acceding to the request of patients (or the parents of patients) for their beliefs to be respected may result in treatment that not only deviates from the orthodox, but which is also bad practice. To put respect for the autonomy of the patient above respect for the beliefs of the physician, requiring him to collude with what he considers to be bad or unethical practice, is an unacceptable infringement of his interests. It is this requirement to collude that is the heart of the problem, even if it does not actually affect treatment.
