Question

What is the correct term that describes the withdraw of protection or support or the discontinuance of medical care without proper notice?

Answer 1

Answer: Abandonment.

Explanation:

According to the Oxford's Learner's Dictionary; abandonment is defined as "the act of leaving a person, thing or place with no intention of returning" or "the act of giving up an idea or stopping an activity with no intention of returning to it"

In medicine the term changes slightly and occurs when the benefits of the protection or support that a patient recieved is taken away without proper notification after the patient has been accepted.

This can occur in a number of different ways;

1. Doctor does not visit patient while the patient is at the hospital.
2. Doctor refuses to treat a patient who was previously accepted without reason or motive.
3. Failure to follow up with patient´s medical reports or health.
4. Failure to assign a substitute when not available. (for example, a woman is giving birth and the doctor leaves the hospital without checking the patient or following up with their health status and doesn't deliver the patient's notes to the doctor who is working the other shift)

It is not considered abandonment when the doctor-patient relationship is legally terminated. This happens when the physician and the patient mutually agree to terminate the relationship.