Additional Coverage:
- Woman continues to demands treatment after refusing to leave hospital despite 719-day stay (irishstar.com)
Woman Refuses to Leave Hospital After Two Years, Sparks Legal Battle
An unprecedented situation is unfolding in Ireland as an elderly woman has reportedly been living in a hospital for nearly two years, refusing to leave despite being medically cleared for discharge. The Irish High Court is now involved in the unusual case, with the hospital seeking legal orders to have her vacate the premises.
The woman, whose identity remains protected by a court order, maintains that she continues to suffer from multiple untreated conditions. Her legal team supports this claim, arguing for her right to further medical attention.
The hospital, however, has reached its limit. According to reports from the Irish Mirror, they are pursuing court orders to compel her departure within 24 hours and prevent her return unless it’s a genuine medical emergency.
Last Friday, Mr. Justice Brian Cregan granted the hospital permission to serve legal proceedings on the woman’s lawyers, with the case now postponed until next week.
In an affidavit, the hospital’s regional clinical director highlighted that the woman is occupying a private room urgently needed for end-of-life patients and those requiring infection control. The director also stated that both the woman and her lawyer have been repeatedly informed that individuals do not have a legal right under Health Acts to dictate their treatments or choose their doctors.
The woman’s lawyer has countered this by citing the patient’s charter, which, they argue, states the opposite: patients are “entitled to be involved in making informed decisions about care and treatment and have the right to seek a second opinion.”
Refusal to Cooperate, Mounting Costs
Despite this assertion, the woman has reportedly refused to consent to further physical evaluations. Her attorney has sent a letter to the hospital demanding immediate medical attention and diagnosis for her alleged cardiac issues and other conditions, promising her departure once these are addressed.
Adding another layer of complexity, the lawyer claims that the doctor attempting to discharge her “is not and never was our client’s doctor.” The hospital has confirmed that the physician who initially discharged her after a year-long stay is no longer employed there, and the woman has refused to accept his replacement as her attending physician.
This extended stay is not only exacerbating severe hospital overcrowding but also comes with a significant financial burden, costing approximately $1,517 per day. The average patient typically occupies such a room for just under five days.
The hospital alleges that despite offering a comprehensive range of support upon discharge, including respite care, rehabilitation, and home assistance, the woman has declined all offers.
The regional clinical director also revealed a pattern of the woman sending emails at all hours to the hospital’s clinical staff and management, demanding treatment. In one particularly striking email to the doctor overseeing her case, she allegedly wrote: “You DOCTOR are gearing up for a DENIABLE DEATH and are betting on it.”
Given these escalating circumstances, the hospital asserts it had no other recourse but to seek intervention from the court.