Is it illegal to run away from hospital?

Question

yesterday a friend of mine went into hospital for heart palpitations, i went with her for support, she had the checks done on her and a blood test the nurse said it would be half an hour for the results, after the nurse left she ran out of the ward and away from the hospital, i was telling her to go back but she wasn't listening, is that illegal to run off like that before being discharged?

Answer 1

http://www.topix.com/forum/dallas/TGRSP4...

Answer 2

Nope, not illegal, they will just write it down as AMA (against medical advice) on her chart. The releases the hosp from any negative behavior. But, I would encourage her to go back and have a through check up and get the answers she needs so she can be as healthy as possible!

Answer 3

SOUNDS LIKE SHE IS TRYING TO HIDE A DRUG ADDICTION!  GET IT.  FAST RACING HEART PALPITATIONS!   YEP, SHE WAS TRYING TO HIDE SOMETHING.......NO NOT ILLEGAL, JUST STUPID, BECAUSE SHE COULD DIE...........  IF NOT TREATED!

Answer 4

i think so cos they are in responsible when you go there cos your asking them for help she could get fined for wasting there tiome or somthing, anyway they know where she lives cos you have 2 give your deatails wen you go anyway

Answer 5

I don't think it's actually illegal but it's not allowed..

Answer 6

No, but it is called AMA. She could be stuck with the hospital bill because insurance companies don't want to pay when the patient leaves AMA. Good Luck with that.

Answer 7

No, she can leave whenever she wants, and call for the results if she wants them.

Answer 8

no,it's just AMA...against medical advice...

Answer 9

It's not illegal.

Answer 10

No it is not illegal.  They consider you to have left against medical advice and they discharge you after you leave and they put AMA on your papers.  If it were a mental hospital and she was ordered to be there it would be a different story.

Answer 11

they will send you to mental asylum.good luck

Answer 12

It is not illegal, but certainly rather foolish for your friend, not to mention wasting healthcare professionals time

Answer 13

Not long ago, I ran out of dentist's office and down the street as fast as I could, when they had a boy nurse.

He tried to ask where I was going and I turned around and gave him a dirty look, as to shut up as I was leaving. I quickly asked the receptionist on the way out if I owed anything, she said no and I was gone. I ran like heck.

Answer 14

No. It's AMA. Against medical advice. I did it once. I had been suffering for over a month from excruciating headaches even though I had been to the doc twice and they gave me medication for sinus infections. They gave me some sort of shot for inflammation before an x-ray. I don't know what that shot was, but I swear it gave me a panic attack. I put my sweater on inside out and backwards and ran out of there. I was freaking out! They called my mom asking where I was because she was on my emergency card, but that was it.

Answer 15

No a person who is deemed competent (mentally and phsycially) which she would be likely to be is allowed to refuse medical treatment.  The hospital would have preferred her to sign forms so as to be sure that they can not be liable for anything should something happen to your friend down the track but realistically she can leave the hospital as freely as she entered it.

Answer 16

No.  She may not get the test results until she arranges payment.  In fact, the test results were probably trashed once they learned she had left.  Furthermore, if she had insurance the insurance company will refuse to pay if left against medical advice, but it is not a crime.  She still owes for the services rendered, but there is no crime unless she fraudulently obtained those services.