[shrinkermd]

Yes, you have described the issue of "abandonment" by a physician quite well. In Minnesota, and I presume in Texas, your responsibility to the patient does not depend on being paid. This is especially true if this occurs in the middle of treatment.

This is a civil suit waiting to happen. Most likely, depending on the doctor's records it will be solved before trial. The presenting issue will be whether the doctor took state of the art steps to insure his patient had the necessary care and whether the family and the patient were aware of these and cooperated to the same

Further, a hospital can make a reasonable effort to find a different place for a non-paying patient, but, again, they are not off the hook either.

I must say most physicians and hospital personnel are unaware of their true, legal and moral responsibility; hence, they are often sued for dereliction of duty or "abandonment" depending on state statutes.

[spectre]

How was she abandoned? She had just had her meds adjusted.

sw