‘I want to leave now’: Handling discharge against medical advice
Discharge against medical advice does not absolve the physician of responsibility for poor outcomes.
Patients voluntarily admitted to locked psychiatric intensive care units sometimes ask to leave against medical advice. They may minimize the severity of their acute illness or deny psychiatric symptoms to obtain a discharge.
Patient characteristics and provider procedures contribute to patients’ decisions to request a discharge against medical advice (DAMA) (Table).1
Table
Risk factors for discharge against medical advice
| Patient characteristics |
| Young (age 20 to 29) |
| Single marital status |
| Male |
| Comorbid personality or substance use disorder |
| Pessimistic attitude toward treatment |
| Antisocial, aggressive, or disruptive behavior |
| Numerous hospitalizations |
| History of discharge against medical advice |
| Provider characteristics |
| Failure to orient patient to hospitalization |
| Lack of a supportive provider-patient relationship |
| Discharge during evening or night shifts |
| Source: Reference 1 |
Not for everyone. Acutely psychotic, delusional, delirious, or demented patients or those with suicidal and homicidal ideation are not candidates for DAMA. For others, approach the patient calmly, explain with empathy what DAMA entails, and support the reasons for admission. Emphasize that following the treatment plan will alleviate psychiatric symptoms sooner and may shorten their stay.
Know the involuntary commitment procedures for your jurisdiction, and be prepared to discuss them with the patient. Assess the patient’s decision-making capacity, including awareness of the severity of his or her psychiatric illness and potential consequences of leaving against medical advice.
Arrange follow-up care for DAMA patients:
- Provide the patient with a brief summary of diagnosis, medications, and follow-up plans.
- Arrange the next available office or telephone appointment.
- Obtain contact information of those responsible for the patient’s safety.
- Provide the patient with emergency room and other phone numbers for crisis intervention.
DAMA does not absolve the physician of responsibility for poor outcomes. Carefully document the DAMA process because these patients are at increased risk of harm.2 Make sure the patient signs, dates, and notes the time on the DAMA request.
