Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare has sued a patient who refuses to leave her hospital room, despite being discharged in October, reports AP.
The hospital has also asked a state judge for an injunction ordering her to vacate the room and authorising the county sheriff’s office to assist if necessary.
It said valuable resources have been diverted from helping other patients because of her occupation of the room.
According to the lawsuit, a formal discharge order was issued on 6 October after it was determined that the woman no longer needed acute care services.
The hospital has repeatedly made efforts to co-ordinate her departure with her family and offered transportation, the lawsuit said.
An attorney for the hospital said the facility had no comment.
The lawsuit doesn’t say what the patient was treated for, what her hospital bill, was or how she was able to stay at the hospital for more than five months, despite being discharged.
No attorney was listed for the patient, who is representing herself, and an online court hearing is scheduled for the end of the month.
Under the US Emergency Medical Treatment and Labour Act, hospitals that receive Medicare funds must provide treatment to stabilises anyone arriving at an emergency department with an emergency medical condition, even if the patient doesn’t have insurance or the ability to pay.
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