Ethical problems faced by professionals of primary care are complex, due to their emergence in unique situations, caused by the multiple dimension of care. The followup of patients resistant to treatment, which are difficult to care are cases that demand a differentiated handling. The article reports the analysis of a case of tough follow-up by a primary care team. The case emerged in a qualitative research about ethical problems, which took place in a municipality of the metropolitan region of Porto Alegre. The data collected by focus discussions regarding ethical problems and its possible ways of solution. To overcome the difficulties of the therapeutic relation between users and practitioners, the results pointed out to the need to enlarge the understanding of the health needs, recognizing the relational context of the application of clinic proceeds and the significance of the subjective experience of illness.
Primary health care service; Health services needs and demands; Delivery of health care; Communication barriers; Bioethics