Most of the time, healthcare providers and their patients agree on when it is time toleave the hospital.
Sometimes, though, you may have different ideas about what is best for you or a loved one.
Sometimes a person decides to leave the hospital against a provider’s advice.
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When this happens, the case is labeled a discharge “against medical advice” (AMA).
This label is used in part to protect providers and the hospital from liability.
This article discusses AMA discharge and its potential risks.
They may feel like hospitals are only keeping them so they can charge more.
Usually, though, the reasons have to do with a person’s safety.
Some discharge guidelines are built into the law.
This program is meant to ensure that people don’t leave the hospital before they are well enough.
This may be becausemedical malpracticeis such a big concern.
Still, there is no evidence that hospitals often hold people for nonmedical reasons.
This is particularly true when it comes to AMA discharges.
Evidence suggests the AMA discharge label is used solely for medical reasons.
It also shows that early discharge puts people at higher risk of hospital readmission and even death.
In the United States, the total number of people who leave the hospital AMA is relatively small.
Extra days can leave you with mounting medical bills you’re able to’t afford.
Dealing With Billing Concerns
The high cost of hospital care is an important concern.
A patient advocate, patient representative, or ombudsman can meet with you to review your bill.
They can also discuss ways to get help with the costs or pay your bill in installments.
In many cases, your bill can be reduced if you are uninsured.Proof oflow incomemay further reduce costs.
In some cases you may even be able to ask for forgiveness.
Most hospitals also offer a 0%-interest repayment plan.
They may also disagree about what key in of care they should get.
Sometimes they may feel that hospital errors have put their health at risk.
However, do not leave without first lodging an official complaint.
For legal reasons, hospitals take serious reportable events (SREs) seriously.
They usually take swift action to correct the error or find a solution.
They may even transfer you to another hospital.
see to it you have a patient advocate to help you negotiate.
If the hospital’s solution will increase your medical costs, insist that the hospital cover those costs.
If your complaint is valid, they will almost certainly agree.
Don’t leave the hospital without first talking to the ER staff.
Weighing the Pros and Cons
Some people may leave simply because they do not like hospitals.
They may have had a bad experience in the past.
They may also have fears about antibiotic-resistant infections likemethicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
If these are your concerns, speak with your healthcare providers.
Keep an open mind when discussing your issues.
give a shot to stay objective.
Weigh the costs and benefits of leaving with the costs and benefits of staying.
Contact theNational Patient Advocate Foundationat 800-532-5274 for help with professional referrals.
Before you go, ensure you know your rights.
Leaving does not change the terms of your insurance, and you are not required to sign discharge papers.
Summary
You have a right to leave the hospital against the advice of your healthcare providers.
Still, you should be aware of the risks of doing so.
Hospitals usually decide whether to keep you in care based on valid medical reasons.
However, you may decide to leave because of high costs, poor care, or past bad experiences.
Whatever your decision, it is important to talk to a patient advocate and hospital administration first.
You may be able to resolve your problems without having to leave AMA.
If you do leave, double-check you understand your rights and the consequences of your decision.
In most cases, no.
Minors and people under the legal guardianship of others cannot discharge themselves; only their legal guardians can.
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program (HRRP).
2023;6(11):e2345437.
doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.45437
Albayati A, Douedi S, Alshami A, et al.Why do patients leave against medical advice?
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Patients leaving the pediatric ER without being seen by a health care provider.
