Voluntary discharge and hospital readmission: ethical and legal healthcare implications

The present research addresses the issue of the ethical and legal implications of voluntary discharge and readmission in the hospital area, taking into consideration that a patient's decision to request voluntary discharge from the hospital may have various motivations, such as the desire to continue the home treatment, financial difficulties, or disagreement with clinical management. The objective of this research focuses on analyzing the depth of the ethical, legal and healthcare implications of voluntary discharge and hospital readmission. Among the main results obtained, it is observed that voluntary discharge is a right that must be duly informed, reasoned and documented when exercised by a competent patient. The health team must do everything possible to guarantee a safe transition home, establishing the necessary measures to reduce avoidable risks of unplanned re-entry. Effective communication and solid coordination between levels of care are essential for continuity of care after discharge. There is still much to advance through research into these complex phenomena, to better understand their impact on clinical outcomes and the experience of patients and their families.