Can physicians drop patients

Yes, a doctor can refuse to continue on with a patient if the patient isn't being cooperative, such as missing appointments with the doctor, refusing to see a specialist, not taking medication as prescribed by the doctor (the patient has a right to request not to take certain medications if they feel there is too many side effects .. unless life-threatening.) For example: If a patient has been diagnosed with cancer that is not curable, but the doctor may want to prolong their life with chemo or radiation treatments and the patient would rather have what time they have as quality time and refuse this treatment the doctor will abide by the request of the patient involved. The doctor will still treat that patient to the best of his/her ability and is there to try to control pain (if necessary.) Most doctors will drop a patient if the patient is constantly argumentative, if the patient stops and starts their medications which may cause serious harm by doing so without permission of the doctor; disrupts the office or the patient asks for the help of the doctor, but refuses to follow direction from their doctor. The doctors are extremely busy and don't have time for any nonsense. I worked part-time for a psychologist who was extremely busy. If the patient missed more than two appointments he would warn them the first time, tell them the second time if it happened again without a 24 hour warning that the appointment couldn't be kept, he would refuse to keep them on as his patient. There are so many people that really want help, so doctors of any type don't want to clog up their time with patients who are argumentative and refuse to follow direction. I think that's fair. However, if the patient (no matter what their personality) goes into ER they have to be treated!