Discharge against medical advice: what to do, doctor?

Abstract

This paper examines the procedures recommended by Brazilian medical councils regarding “discharge against medical advice”. An exploratory and documentary research was conducted to identify and analyze several council publications regarding questions and doubts raised by physicians when faced with discharge requests. Solutions proposed to the issue at hand (ethical-legal insecurity of physicians in authorizing discharges) were analyzed based on ethical-legal frameworks, aiming to provide physicians with greater security and tranquility in conducting this procedure.