Patient's rights dilemma

Nurses Relations

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We have a pt. Because of pt condition, the MD advises pt not to smoke.

To make a long story short, the manager pt not to smoke and reminded the charge nurse to make sure that pt is not smoking because of the complication of smoking to health.But a few days later, pt was seen smoking.

Is it really a patient's bill of right to do whatever they want to do while doing something that is risking their health?

Specializes in Emergency, Telemetry, Transplant.

It is easy to say "If you leave to smoke, you will be discharged AMA;" however, it sounds like a sticky situation in a SNF. If a patient is quite mobile, this might not be a problem. If it is someone with mobility issues, what would happen if they leave to smoke, acknowledge they are leaving AMA, and then get hit by a car when the are crossing the street to get off the property to smoke? If they are forced to leave AMA, I am certainly charting the heck out of it.

Specializes in Cardiac/Progressive Care.
Actually he can be allowed to leave AMA without PICC removal. If you held someone against his will to do a procedure it is battery and kidnapping under the law.

As far as I know, a PICC can be considered hospital property, and leaving AMA with one could be considered theft.

The PICC is a billable item. It transfers ownership upon placement in the body. If you can bill for a product, it is the patients upon placement or when added to the bill

Specializes in Emergency Room, Trauma ICU.
The PICC is a billable item. It transfers ownership upon placement in the body. If you can bill for a product, it is the patients upon placement or when added to the bill

Same with an IV but when known drug users elope from the ER with an IV in place we still send the cops to their house to do a welfare check on them and have it removed.

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