Should people be able to refuse pain medication for major surgeries?

Seriously. Not that I can imagine doing it, or ANYONE doing it, for that matter- but should I (or hell, maybe I already do) have the right to refuse pain meds and insist on having NO anesthesia or numbing?

Possibly, but a doctor has the right to refuse service if you insist on not using some form of pain control.

I had a lump removed from my breast when I was 18. THey just used a local anesthetic. The dr warned me before-hand to not jerk my arm if I felt anything because it could cause a serious injury if I moved while he was cutting me. I did feel him cut me, I told him I could feel it and he gave me another shot. Anyway, I don't think there is any way possible surgery could be performed without at least local. And I think really invasive surgeries would have to have full anesthesia.

Incidently, I saw a show where people were put under, but the pain meds failed. They were paralyised so could not move and were consious but their eyes were closed and they could not open them and they felt all the pain. These people now suffer from PTSD because it was so painful and horrifying.

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I refused general anesthesia when I had a breast lump removed a few years back, they gave me a few local injections and it didn't hurt at all....Honestly I don't think the surgeon was too happy about it but I didn't see a point to being completely put out for a 20 minute surgery. General anestesia always made me very ill, and I didn't feel it was worth it.

I also know plenty of people that refuse novacaine during dental procedures, now they're nuts....no way.