Medical Malpractice

Why do many hospitals insist on patients leaving in a wheelchair?

I noticed it on 'House' and many other hospital programs but having seen it in real life hospitals it really makes me wonder. Why is it that patients are always carried out in a wheelchair even when they can walk just fine?

Public Comments

1. If your in the hospital obviously your not fine and leaving in a wheelchair wouldnt hurt.
2. While they want to give the impression that people are "better", they don't like to give the impression that people are completely "cured". It dates back to the 1800's when the trend was to find treatments to cure and not just to treat. Hospitals don't like to advertise what they can't give 100% of the time. Therefore, people are taken out in wheelchairs. It is also, of course, a nice way of leaving a place you didn't really want to be in the first place, but that's another story.
3. well they may be feeling to weak to walk. and if they take that precaution there will be less lawsuits.
4. Once you are out at the curb safely they are off the hook. You can not sue them if you trip or slip on the way out the door. They need to get you outside as safely as possible so their responsibility for you can end without a hitch.
5. Hospitals don't want any more law suites than they have to have. Patients have been in hospital because they have been ill or injured and, this causes weakness hence, the wheel chair in case they fall down and go boom.
6. Because until you actually leave the hospital, you are in the care of the hospital -- once you are out the door, you are no longer a patient -- it's a liability issue.
7. It's a means to justify the outrageous cost of your stay!