Quote:
Originally Posted by teresakoch
If you don't think you are well enough to leave the hospital, then INSIST on being allowed to stay. If they balk at that, tell them that you will be contacting an attorney to take your family's malpractice case if things go South..... 
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Forgive me for saying this, but I do not think this is good advice.
First, patients who insist on being in the hospital when their physicians clearly think they shouldn't, receive the worst possible care. Such patients are in general seen as attention seekers and suffering from emotional problems. This is what I call the "follie a deux" of medical teams. I have seen that happen in the best hospitals in the world. An entire team can ignore ominous signs once this label is put on a patient. It is an extremely dangerous situation in which the worst mistakes can happen. It is worthwhile doing this only if you have a consultant who you know is fully aware of the severity of your condition, and has enough influence to change the situation and ensure that you receive proper care.
Second, Threatening with a law-suit will automatically (and understandably) disrupt trust and make the patient a potential enemy (in court) and not a true partner. As it is physicians are practicing defensive medicine way too much. Except for rare situations this does not lead to better care, but less good and much more expensive care.
A true physician-patient relationship can only be based on mutual trust and respect. This is even more so for a life-long illness which is not by the book, in which you need a physician who really cares and is ready to bend the rules, take reasonable risks, think out of the box and fight for you.