Problem
Case Scenario:
Jahleel, age 14, is afflicted with a cleft lip and palate and needs a common operation that promises to improve both his appearance and his speech significantly. Due to his appearance, Jahleel has had tremendous difficulty finding acceptance among his peers and has few friends. The boy's father, a believer in mental healing, refuses to permit the operation or even discuss it with the physician. The physician explains the operation to Jahleel, who expresses a desire to try harder to close the cleft palate "through natural forces."
Based on your above analysis, must the physician respect their refusal of the surgery? If not, what ethically appropriate options are available to the physician?