Noncompliance by patients: a response to professor Dimond

A recent article published in Nursing Ethics, written by Professor Bridgit Dimond, highlighted the topic of noncompliance by patients and attention was drawn to a number of issues relevant to health care professionals. In this response, some specific challenges facing nurses are considered in the light of Professor Dimond's arguments. In doing so, the notion of compliance as an appropriate concept in modern nursing practice is questioned. The recommendations to emerge include strategies to consider patient response to treatment regimens in the form of adherence to health care advice through negotiated therapy. The claimed benefits of health care recommendations are considered and caution about iatrogenesis is advised.