Factors associated with requests for premature discharge and the decision to support a service user through the discharge against medical advice process

In the Irish mental healthcare system, voluntarily admitted service users can request to leave hospital at any time. Following engagement with treating clinicians, service users remain as voluntary inpatients, are discharged, discharge themselves against medical advice, or are detained under legislation for the purposes of assessment. While detention conflicts with the principle of autonomy and a human rights‐based approach, premature discharge...