Abstract
Alcoholic and drug-dependent patients frequently discharge themselves from hospital against medical advice. Simple objective guidelines for deciding whether certain patients would be readmitted, have been derived from previous self-discharge behaviour recorded in patient files at the Langton Clinic. Alcoholics are not readmitted if there have been four self-discharges or two discharges for breaking clinic rules. Opiate dependents were less consistent than alcoholics in their self-discharge behaviour and a decision not to readmit should be based on previous rule violations rather than on signing out or absconding.
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Notes on contributors
John Stanhope
Both authors formerly Public Health Officers, Eastern Sydney Area Public Health Unit Both authors formerly Public Health Officers Eastern Sydney Area Public Health Unit Previously general practitioner, Orange NSW, Australia.