Discharges Against Medical Advice: Prevalence, Predictors, and Populations

Discharge against medical advice (DAMA) is when a patient leaves a healthcare institution, typically a hospital where the patient is admitted, before it is deemed medically appropriate. DAMA constitutes approximately 1% of all US hospital discharges; however, the proportion of those leaving against medical advice may be higher in certain populations, and not all DAMA will be avoidable.