To facilitate a patient’s safe discharge from an inpatient unit, physicians should:
- Determine that the patient is medically stable and ready for discharge from the treating facility.
- Collaborate with those health care professionals and others who can facilitate a patient discharge to establish that a plan is in place for medically needed care that considers the patient’s particular needs and preferences.
If a medically stable patient refuses discharge, physicians should support the patient’s right to seek further review, including consultation with an ethics committee or other appropriate institutional resource.
AMA Principles of Medical Ethics: I, II, VIII
Read the Principles