Factors Influencing Tertiary Care Patients to Abandon Medical Advice: A Case Study from Health Centers in New Delhi, India

Abstract

The study helped us to realise that financial burden remains the main reason for patients leaving against the medical advice in a tertiary care hospital in New Delhi, India. When a patient, who is already admitted in the hospital wishes to leave against the clinician’s advice, it is referred to as discharge against medical advice (DAMA) or leave against medical advice (LAMA). These patients are often ill at the time of leaving against medical advice as of the disease process itself along with incomplete treatment. The study conducted here is a prospective study enlisting all the causes forcing the patients to leave the hospital against medical advice from the door of the emergency room. Choosing the alternative systems of healthcare practice and home remedies is also prevalent in Indian community. We will further try to find out the best ways possible to reduce the number of patients leaving the healthcare facilities against the medical advice.