A 2013 study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal and a 2012 American Journal of Medicine study both show that leaving a hospital against medical advice (AMA) more than doubles a patient’s risk of death. Leaving a hospital AMA also triples a patient’s likelihood of readmission within 30 days.
While the AMA defense is a dream for defense attorneys, whether you’re a Certified Legal Nurse Consultant working for plaintiff or defense, documentation that a patient left AMA is an important red flag in the medical record.
I’m Just Sayin’
P.S. Comment and share your experiences with AMA as an issue in your cases as a Certified Legal Nurse Consultant.
