Why Do Patients Leave Against Medical Advice?

Re:Why Do Patients Leave Against Medical Advice? by _qua on Tuesday October 10, 2023 @06:06PM (#37838284)

As a physician probably my single most feared infection is a MRSA (or any Staph.) bloodstream infection. It’s a sticky bacterium that likes to destroy heart valves and joints. I’m personally a bit of a medical nihilist but antibiotics often work to treat it and I would not be eager to do the n=1 trial of the shortest effective duration.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Why Do Patients Leave Against Medical Advice? by Waterluvian on Tuesday October 10, 2023 @06:44PM (#37838710)

Bankruptcy may very well do greater collective harm. Pretty horrifying to even have to weigh that variable.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Why Do Patients Leave Against Medical Advice? by John23832 on Tuesday October 10, 2023 @06:55PM (#37838820)

As much as bankruptcy is horrible, it’s does not compare to the immediate harm of a disseminated MRSA infection.

Let’s not be hyperbolic.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Why Do Patients Leave Against Medical Advice? by Waterluvian on Tuesday October 10, 2023 @07:04PM (#37838906)

I think you’re very fortunate to not have known anyone who has had to make that calculation.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Why Do Patients Leave Against Medical Advice? by John23832 on Thursday October 12, 2023 @10:38AM (#37857811)

There is no calculation to make. If you have an untreated MRSA infection, you will die. Now whether the treatment can be overly prosecuted is a different question.

You can set a broken bone yourself. You cannot treat MRSA. You do not walk out of a hospital with untreated MRSA AMA.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Why Do Patients Leave Against Medical Advice? by Brian_K_White on Tuesday October 10, 2023 @07:57PM (#37839313)

If the harm is so great to all of society, then surely all of society would ensure that no one ever has to even think about cutting any treatments short.

Or, even if it's just the knowledgeable and responsible medical profession who knows how important that is, then surely that same knowledgeable and responsible medical profession would ensure that no one ever has to think about doing something they claim to care so much about avoiding. Right?

This responsibility to others argument falls dead flat.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Why Do Patients Leave Against Medical Advice? by xscott on Wednesday October 11, 2023 @01:56AM (#37841394)

I would rather die than lose all my retirement savings and be forced to find a job in my 60s or 70s. No hyperbole at all.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Why Do Patients Leave Against Medical Advice? by John23832 on Thursday October 12, 2023 @10:36AM (#37857782)

With an untreated MRSA infection, you wouldn't live to your 60' or 70's. No worries.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Why Do Patients Leave Against Medical Advice? by NoMoreNicksLeft on Tuesday October 10, 2023 @06:54PM (#37838814)

> It’s a sticky bacterium that likes to destroy heart valves

Do those grow back crooked or something?

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Why Do Patients Leave Against Medical Advice? by woleium on Tuesday October 10, 2023 @08:07PM (#37839392)

I don’t believe they grow back at all.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Why Do Patients Leave Against Medical Advice? by _qua on Tuesday October 10, 2023 @10:11PM (#37840133)

No they get destroyed leading to hear failure and shock needing surgical replacement if you survive

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Why Do Patients Leave Against Medical Advice? by cratermoon on Tuesday October 10, 2023 @11:53PM (#37840686)

Adult heart cells (cardiac muscle) don't regenerate. Once they're gone, they're gone.

[ Parent | on HN ]