What is the ruling on forcing a patient to continue treatment against their wishes? My mother has cancer, and we arranged for her to undergo surgery at our own expense. After examining her, the doctors determined that she needed to receive chemotherapy to prevent the cancer from spreading. She underwent six sessions of chemotherapy but later refused to continue treatment or even be admitted to a hospital. Whenever we brought up her treatment, she would cry, which was taking a toll on her psychological well-being. When she learned that she was free to decide whether or not to continue treatment, her psychological state improved. She is now living a relatively happy life, going to the mosque to pray and engaging in other activities. Are her children blameworthy or guilty of any shortcoming?

Your mother is legally competent and of sound judgment, which makes her responsible for herself and for the consequences of her decisions. It is not permissible to compel her to do anything against her will, even to undergo the treatment recommended by her doctors. A person is not merely a physical body but a being with a soul and mind. Accordingly, she must not be treated as though they were a machine.  If the doctors themselves will not operate on your mother without her consent, how then can you force her to do undergo a procedure against her will?  You should continue to advise her and explain the possible consequences as you understand them.

And Allah Almighty knows best.