Discharge against medical advice (DAMA) in paediatrics: An approach to promote safety and ethics. Issue 1 (18th April 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kavanagh, Aifric; Ostrow, Olivia; Zlotnik Shaul, Randi
• Is Part Of: Paediatrics & Child Health. Volume 25:Issue 1(2020)
• Page Start: 12
• Page End: 15
• Publication Date: 2019-04-18
• Subjects: Best interests -- Bioethics -- Capacity -- Decision making -- Discharge -- DAMA -- Patient safety; Pediatrics -- Periodicals; Children -- Health and hygiene -- Periodicals; 618.92
• DOI: 10.1093/pch/pxz052
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1205-7088

Abstract

Abstract: Requests for discharge against medical advice are often challenging for clinicians to navigate, especially when the patient is a child. An informed, standardized approach to managing situations where children and their families are requesting to leave against medical advice is essential to maximizing safety and ethics for patients and staff, yet such situations are often not handled this way. Paediatric discharge against medical advice (DAMA) requests are best managed when clinicians ensure the patient's best interests are met, understand and act upon their professional obligations, and engage in guided discussion with patients and families that involves both shared and informed decision-making strategies. A process map can capture these criteria and readily provide clinicians with a bedside reference tool when managing paediatric DAMA requests.