Policy on patient leaving AMA with IV in place

[trainer2070]

I know it very's from hospital to hospital, but what's your general policy regarding patients going AMA who still have their IV in place?

[mscsrjhm]

Might be illegal under the same law that does not allow the general public to use medical devices without a prescription, or the the law that makes it illegal to harm yourself. Or maybe the one where it is illegal to shoot up narcotics?

Anyway, the ACLU never came to our facility as far as I know. But the patients returned one way or another. And the sheriff continues to bring them in as needed.

So the Sheriff's department actually drives to a person's home, physically restrains them, drives them to the hospital for hospital staff to remove the IV.? And hospital staff does this without a court order? Is the patient admitted through ER for this procedure? Is the patient restrained?

You would darn sure have to restrain me if I was being falsely imprisoned and kidnapped!!!

Doesn't hold water.

Sheriff's office doesn't have the right to declare a person illegally using a medical device- that goes through the courts.

They can arrest people, but cannot make the decision to return a person to another location for a medical procedure.

[mscsrjhm]

Person wants to leave AMA- it is their right. Always get a witness. Explain medical reasons to stay. If they walk out with IV- they walk out with IV. Never called the Police-called Management, Doctors, Security, but you CANNOT physically restrain anyone. It is illegal.

[northshore08]

Nurse4years, it's a terrible shame you did not clarify this for us when the OP brought up the subject. Guess we are all wrong.

Have a good day.:heartbeat

[annmariern]

Good question. I had a doc once tell me he had a pt go ama, clotting disorder and had pulled the IV himself, and bled to death, he insisted I call PD and they found him and brought him back, but I always wondered what the deal was with that. He came willingly.

[mscsrjhm]

Your post indicated that civil rights were being violated, and the laws of unlawful imprisonment and kidnapping were occurring- if these patients were being transferred back to the hospital against their will.

And, were these patients admitted to ER prior to removal of the hep lock?

I have seen nurses attempt to stand in front of a patient's door in order to block their exit. This is illegal, is a felony, and can be prosecuted (and would be if I were the patient.)

[JRD2002]

My coworkers once had a patient that left in the middle of the night without telling anyone. He had been talking about needing to go home and feed his dogs. The charge nurse quickly looked up his address and realized he lived close by. She took off running and caught up to an elderly man in a hospital gown about 5 blocks from the hospital. He still had his IV in and he let her take it out on the side of the street. He said that he was only going to check on his dogs and would be back in an hour and to hold his room. She went back to the hospital and in an hour...so did he.

[lpnstudentin2010, LPN]

My coworkers once had a patient that left in the middle of the night without telling anyone. He had been talking about needing to go home and feed his dogs. The charge nurse quickly looked up his address and realized he lived close by. She took off running and caught up to an elderly man in a hospital gown about 5 blocks from the hospital. He still had his IV in and he let her take it out on the side of the street. He said that he was only going to check on his dogs and would be back in an hour and to hold his room. She went back to the hospital and in an hour...so did he.

At least he kept his promise.

[BinkieRN, BSN, RN]

Our hospital policy is to notify the police department if a patient leaves AMA with an IV in place. The police can bring them back to the floor to have the IV DC'd but generally the patient will come back on their own. Some leave so fast or so angry they forget they still have a heplock.

We've had several leave with a heplock on purpose. They had to be brought back in by the police.

[mscsrjhm]

Our hospital policy is to notify the police department if a patient leaves AMA with an IV in place. The police can bring them back to the floor to have the IV DC'd but generally the patient will come back on their own. Some leave so fast or so angry they forget they still have a heplock.

We've had several leave with a heplock on purpose. They had to be brought back in by the police.

? This is flagrant false imprisonment and kidnapping- how are police departments getting away with this?

Doesn't the general population know their rights? This is so sad.

Police cannot violate the law just because a nurse tells them to. NO CRIME HAS BEEN COMMITTED!!

[northshore08]

You said that before...

[northshore08]

?Sheriff's department sued often for violating civil rights?

This would be an illegal act by any law enforcement office, without a warrent.

No crime has been committed.

You are in the USA?

So the Sheriff's department actually drives to a person's home, physically restrains them, drives them to the hospital for hospital staff to remove the IV.? And hospital staff does this without a court order? Is the patient admitted through ER for this procedure? Is the patient restrained?

You would darn sure have to restrain me if I was being falsely imprisoned and kidnapped!!!

Doesn't hold water.

Sheriff's office doesn't have the right to declare a person illegally using a medical device- that goes through the courts.

They can arrest people, but cannot make the decision to return a person to another location for a medical procedure.

? This is flagrant false imprisonment and kidnapping- how are police departments getting away with this?

Doesn't the general population know their rights? This is so sad.

Police cannot violate the law just because a nurse tells them to. NO CRIME HAS BEEN COMMITTED!!

Okay. We know. Thank you.

[mscsrjhm]

You said that before...[/quote

May you have a good day.