Pt signed out AMA then died! what do you think?

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Specializes in Telemetry.

i recently worked a shift monday and walked in to a patient who wanted to sign out AMA, his INR was 4.5 and explained to him that i didnt think it was a good idea and to stay one more night, so we can check his levels in the morning. He didnt buy it...no i work on a tele unit.

he signed the AMA form i told him no coumadin and to see his md for repeat labs on wednesday per the physicans orders...all documented real well he left approx at 5 pm

anyway.....i find out from my supervisor that morning(tuesday) around 4 am (yes i worked a double) that he came into the ER after a fall in his bathroom, with a HIGE sub dural hematoma, was intubated and shipped to a different facility for emergent operation.

i look in the paper today (thursday) and saw he died later that day on wednesday

CAN WE TALK ABOUT ? LAWSUIT! I AM FREAKING OUT HERE....any advice anyone ever encounter this i have had people sign out ama before...but now a death related how good is this AMA form for legallity?

i need your responses guys...please help :sniff:

jen

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