Children discharged against medical advice

ABSTRACT

This study was conducted to discern the magnitude of the problem of parents discharging their children against medical advice [DAMA], to identify the causes behind this phenomenon and to recommend means of solving this problem. Over a six-month period, all parents discharging their children against medical advice were interviewed on discharge to get demographic data and to evaluate the reason[s] for the premature discharge. For comparison, a similar number of randomly selected parents of hospitalized children were interviewed at the time of their discharge. During the study period a total of 105 [6.8%] children were DAMA. The most common reasons given by the parents were; the problem of caring for other children at home, false parental judgment of improvement and lack of trust for the medical establishment. To reduce this problem we recommend improvement of the physician-parent relationship. education of the public and legislation controlling the rights of parents over their children when their well-being is endangered