Can I insist on being sent home from the hospital?

Answer 1

Yes, you can. You, as a patient, have the right to refuse any further treatment, UNLESS you are judged mentally incompetent. So, here's what you need to do:
1. When a nurse or doctor comes in next (preferably a doctor), tell him you want to leave. He will say that he needs more tests, wants to continue to observe, etc. Then, you tell him "I am refusing any further treatment. Please discharge me now." The doctor will either do one of two thing: a) discharge you as you are probably OK and he was erring on the safe side; b) call for an emergency mental competency hearing, at which time a qualified person or panel will ask you some questions to judge your mental capabilities (hint - that is not a good time for jokes).

Assuming you are in good mental order, you will be asked to sign a form which says "I, your doctor, think it is a very stupid idea for you to leave right now, but you want to, I can't stop you, so if you die, you won't sue me, my family, my insurance, and / or this hospital." You will have to sign it to get out of the hospital, and then you're out.

I had to go through this when my wife had food poisoning. The doctor's kept her in the hospital for 7 days, even though she was fine after the first night. Probably because I had premium insurance (best money can buy). My wife wanted to go home, had felt fine for 6 days, doctor would not discharge her, I called my lawyer, he advised be similar to the above, my wife said that, and was out of the hospital within 2 hours, they did not even try to do a mental exam.

Answer 2

Unless your hospitalization is ordered by a court due to the findings that you were of danger to yourself or others, you are in control of your treatment. If you leave they will make an entry into your medical charts the you left the facility AMA (Against Medical Advice) to cover their butts if you suffer serious complications due to the lack of treatment, but that entry does not preclude you from seeking future treatment. I am assuming that since you are on the computer and are mentally competent enough to pose such a question that you are neither committed to a psychiatric institution and no one has been appointed as a Guardian over you. That being said, do what you think is in your best interest. Best of luck!

Answer 3

Yes. It's called signing out AMA (against medical advise). I'm assuming this is a regular hospital and not a mental hospital.

Answer 4

Unless you are in the hospital for some legal reason, like mental illness treatment imposed by a court, you are not required to stay, but you may have to sign a waiver.

Answer 5

In most cases if you leave a hospital without medical approval of the attending phyician, they will wash their hands of you and refuse to provide you (and legally so) any additional treatment in the future.

Answer 6

It depends on your medical state. If you are in a reasonably competent mental state with no life threatening injuries you have the right to demand to leave as long as they are assured payment.

If you are mentally incompetant or have major life threatening injuries and you die or get hurt right after leaving they could be liable so they have the right/duty to keep you until your condition imporves....it all depends on your medical state.

Answer 7

Yes. So long as you have not been declared incapacitated. They will indicate that you left against medical advice.

Answer 8

yes you can but if they felt you should stay they would probably make you sign a paper saying that you are aware that you are leaving against their advice. I had to do that.

Answer 9

Yes, you can leave at any time you have free will and if they try to make you stay they are breaking the law.

Answer 10

Yes you can you can AMA out. (Against medical advice) by signing a form.