Against Medical Advice

From open-encyclopedia.com - the free encyclopedia.

Against Medical Advice, or AMA is a term used with a patient who checks themselves out of a hospital against the advice of their doctor. While it may not be medically wise for the person to leave early, in most cases the wishes of the patient are considered first. The patient is usually asked to sign a form stating that they are aware their leaving the facility is against medical advice, and the AMA term is used on reports concering the patient.

In a mental hospital setting, a patient is typically allowed to check themselves out of the hospital by giving at least a day's notice (though in some jurisdictions the time may vary depending on whether the patient is under "informal" or "formal" voluntary commitment). However if the doctor feels that the patient would be a danger to self or others, the doctor can begin commitment proceedings against the patient to compel the patient to stay in the hospital.