A Florida hospital wants to boot a woman who has refused to leave despite being discharged five months ago, and has filed a lawsuit to give her the heave.
The woman was discharged on October 6, but continues to occupy an inpatient room at the Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare facility. According to a lawsuit filed at the beginning of March and seen by USA Today. Despite being discharged, the unnamed patient has refused to vacate her room.
The hospital is requesting a court mandate for her removal, seeking assistance from the Leon County Sheriff’s Office to enforce the order.
The complaint highlighted the strain this situation places on medical infrastructure, noting that the "defendant’s continued occupancy prevents use of the bed for patients needing acute care," as reported by USA Today. It’s unclear what condition brought the woman to the hospital in the first place.
Furthermore, the filing suggests that hospital staff and resources are being diverted to manage the woman's ongoing stay. To resolve the matter before suing, "TMH staff made repeated efforts to assist the defendant in safely completing discharge," the complaint stated.
These efforts included coordinating with the patient’s family members and offering non-emergency medical transportation to assist the woman in obtaining necessary identification.
The timing of the lawsuit coincides with a major transition for the facility. On March 11, city officials voted to transfer the hospital to Florida State University. The move is meant to establish an academic medical center in Tallahassee.
In a statement given to The Independent, a spokesperson for Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare said “TMH is not able to discuss active legal matters, including background details.”
The hospital maintains that it issued a formal written warning nearly a month after the patient’s initial discharge date, stating that legal action would follow if she did not leave.
