Concerns about neonates discharged against medical advice from the neonatal intensive care unit

Abstract:

Discharge against medical advice (DAMA) conflicts with the purpose of disease treatment in children. Some research has shown that there are high proportions of extremely preterm infants and infants with asphyxia or congenital malformation in neonates with DAMA. This suggests that the sustainable development of neonatology needs cooperation and co-development with obstetrics, neonatal surgery, and radiology to reduce the rate of DAMA. With reference to the current status of research in both China and other countries, this article reviews the causes for DAMA and the strategies for reducing the rate of DAMA, in order to provide a theoretical basis for effectively reducing the rate of DAMA from the neonatal intensive care unit, improving treatment outcomes of the neonates, and increasing hospitals’ comprehensive benefits.