Legal right to leave hospital?

[LimeSlice]

How does the right of refusal cover the baby? Does it extend fully, or do they have rights to keep the baby if you are wanting to discharge the baby against medical advice also?

[HotI]

How does the right of refusal cover the baby? Does it extend fully, or do they have rights to keep the baby if you are wanting to discharge the baby against medical advice also?

I believe that normally a baby is not a patient after birth unless they require medical treatment. If the child becomes a patient, and you want to discharge them against medical advice then I guess you risk the hospital calling child protection if they feel serious enough about it.
Maybe divvy might know more.

[HotI]

My mate is not yet in hospital but trying to prepare after a not so good experience last time. I have checked out the ideas post ed and will pass on the info. The hospital has some info on their website but not nowhere specifically says that you have the right to refuse. Wouldn't want to encourage people, eh?

[Novella]

Most large hospitals have a patient advisory service that can help with specific questions.

[meow]

Getting the catheter removed could be an issue. I was trying to sign myself out of a hospital once, very much against the doctor's wishes and it took HOURS. The nurses stall and stall with the paperwork and getting you sorted. I'm trying to remember why I was waiting, maybe I was trying to be good? But I'm wondering if I had an IV that they had already said could be removed and I had to wait for that. Wish I could remember properly but I think that may have been the case. In any case I do think they'll stall on removing the catheter if they don't want you to leave. They were making me waiting for my surgeon to visit and he was held up. I didn't mind not seeing him, I knew I was good to go and was content with the decision.

If things get really hairy I'm sure they'll find something "medically wrong" with the baby if they really want to keep you there too. But then, I'm a cynic.