TY - CHAP M1 - Book, Section TI - Against Medical Advice A1 - Kirby, Ryan P. A1 - Kirby, Jessica J. A1 - Robinson, Richard Dean A2 - Reichman, Eric F. Y1 - 2018 N1 - T2 - Reichman's Emergency Medicine Procedures, 3e AB - Patients electing to leave against medical advice (AMA) represent a growing population in the United States and provide unique challenges to the Emergency Physician.1Discharge AMA is defined as the patient leaving before the Emergency Physician finishes the evaluation and establishes the disposition.2 It is estimated that 1% of Emergency Department visits result in a discharge AMA.3,4 The prevalence rate of leaving AMA varies between Emergency Departments.5 Discharge AMA patients often present again within a few days, resulting in increased costs associated with repeat testing and higher acuity therapeutic interventions due to worsening of their condition.3 The AMA patient has an increased risk of repeated admission, increased admission length of stay, increased morbidity, and increased mortality.2,6-17 This chapter provides an overview of the legal obligations to treat and elements associated with the refusal of care and discusses special populations that may be encountered. SN - PB - McGraw-Hill Education CY - New York, NY Y2 - 2024/03/28 UR - accessemergencymedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1159793272 ER -