Leenoy Hendizadeh, Paula Goodman-Crews, Jeannette Martin, Eli Weber
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Abstract: Discharges against medical advice (AMA) make up a significant number of hospital discharges in the United States, and often involve vulnerable patients who struggle to obtain adequate medical care. Unfortunately, much of the AMA discharge process focuses on absolving the medical center of liability for what happens to these patients once they leave the acute setting. Comparatively little attention is paid to the ethical obligations of the medical team once an informed decision to leave the acute care setting AMA has been made. Via a case narrative, we offer an ethical framework that we believe can help guide an ethically defensible AMA discharge process. By emphasizing our duty to provide the best care possible under the circumstances, we contend, our ethical obligations to promote the patient's best interests can still be met despite their decision to leave the acute setting against medical advice.
期刊介绍：
Narrative Inquiry in Bioethics (NIB) is a unique journal that provides a forum for exploring current issues in bioethics through personal stories, qualitative and mixed-methods research articles, and case studies. NIB is dedicated to fostering a deeper understanding of bioethical issues by publishing rich descriptions of complex human experiences written in the words of the person experiencing them. While NIB upholds appropriate standards for narrative inquiry and qualitative research, it seeks to publish articles that will appeal to a broad readership of healthcare providers and researchers, bioethicists, sociologists, policy makers, and others. Articles may address the experiences of patients, family members, and health care workers.
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