Portsmouth Police were called to Southern Ohio Medical Center after a tense encounter between a medical employee and a patient’s father.
The staff member told officers she was treating a child when the boy’s father announced he was taking his son and leaving the hospital. The employee said she wanted to check the child before discharge, but the father refused. She reported that he picked up the boy and “shoulder checked” her on the way out.
By the time officers arrived, the parent had already left with the child. The staff member didn’t want to press charges but asked police to document the incident.
What Parents Should Know
Experts note that under most circumstances, a parent or guardian can choose to remove their child from a hospital — but it’s never acceptable to use physical force against medical staff. Assaulting healthcare workers is against the law and can result in criminal charges.
If parents feel staff are being unreasonable, the safer options include:
- Ask for a patient advocate or supervisor to mediate the dispute.
- Request to sign an Against Medical Advice (AMA) form, which documents the decision to leave.
- File a formal complaint after leaving if you feel your rights were violated.
Shoving or intimidating hospital staff only escalates the situation — and can turn a parenting decision into a criminal case.