Florida hospital sues patient who won’t leave room 5 months after discharge
Patient Refuses to Leave Hospital Room, Hospital Sues
Room 373 at Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare has been occupied by a patient who refuses to leave, even after being discharged last October. The hospital has taken legal action against the patient, seeking an injunction from a state judge to vacate the room and enlisting the county sheriff’s office for assistance if needed.
The prolonged occupation of the room has led to resources being diverted from other patients in need of acute care services.
The hospital stated in the lawsuit that the patient’s continued occupancy of the room is preventing its use for patients requiring acute care. The woman was formally discharged on October 6 after no longer needing acute care services. Despite repeated efforts by the hospital to coordinate her departure with family members and offer transportation for necessary identification, the patient has remained in the room.
Attorney Rachel Givens representing the hospital declined to comment, and hospital spokeswoman Macy Layton stated that they couldn’t discuss active legal matters.
The lawsuit does not disclose the patient’s medical condition, hospital bill, or how she managed to stay in the hospital for over five months post-discharge. The patient, representing herself, has no listed attorney, and contact numbers are disconnected.
An online court hearing is scheduled later this month to address the lawsuit.
Under the federal Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act, hospitals must provide stabilizing treatment to anyone with an emergency medical condition, regardless of insurance or payment ability. The patient can be discharged when further care can be provided as an outpatient with appropriate follow-up care instructions.
