Discharge against medical advice.

An audit of surgical patients who requested discharge against medical advice over a 5 year period (July 1996-July 2001) at the University of BeninTeaching Hospital showed that 78 patients (66 males and 12 females) were involved. The age range was 3 days to 85 years (mean 37.86 years). The 21-40 age group was the most involved. Trauma in general accounted for the most common clinical condition that caused a patient to discharge against medical advice (64 or 82%), while fracture involving the long bones was the most common condition (37 or 47.4%). The plausible reasons for this practice have been outlined including measures that may help to reduce discharge against medical advice in a developing country.