My father was admitted to Athena hospital in Mangalore. He was kept under observation for 24 hrs. After that when his conditioned improved we requested the doctor to discharge him because based on the reports we wanted to consult the best neurologists in town and didn't want to leave my father's condition to the hospital management. The doctor in charge refused to discharge him stating he needs to stay there for 3 more days. Since we refused they declined giving the discharge summary so that we don't get the insurance claim. This hospital is one of the network hospital for the Insurance that we had adopted.

The hospital staff claimed that it is in the policy that 'discharge summary' can be refused in cases where the patients wants to get discharged against the request of the doctors. Discharge summary is a simple report that the says the patient has been discharged. It is okay if they write in the summary that the patient refused further treatment by the doctor and if anything happens to him it's the sole responsibility of the family. If there is such a policy then its a clear violation of the basic human rights to force the patient to stay in the hospital he doesnt want to just under the threat to refuse him the discharge summary.

My father was admitted under emergency condition and Athena was the hospital was closest to where we were put up. At midnight 11 pm we had no option but to admit him there. But after 24 hrs and we realised the nature of his trauma we decided to seek a specialist in the field. We have the right to go to any hospital we deem fit. And trying to prevent the patient in the circumstance of the trauma hes already undergone is a clear indication of the hospitals insensitivity and using insurance policies for money making.

It bieng a network hospital we are still trying to get hold of the discharge summary through the insurance person so that we can claim the insurance. This is a stunt to show thier power on the weak especially when they dont have a choice. I am not looking for any monetary compensation from the hospital but i sure want a deep look into such a policy if it exists. Even if it does then the policy needs to be written and made clear to the patients before they get admitted. Its not ok to torture the patients letting them know some unwritten rule at the fag end of the hospitalization.