• State your doubts in a simple letter to the hospital's director or the health plan's medical director. (Rules vary from state to state.)
• Meet with the hospital's discharge planner.
• Ask if the hospital is following the usual policy for the condition.
• Explain any special reasons that make you think it is unwise to discharge the person.
• Ask if the hospital rules can be changed to cover this special case.
• Remember that anyone has the right to appeal a discharge.
• Get your doctor's help in the appeal, but understand that he or she may have different reasons for wanting to discharge the person.

NOTE: According to federal law, a hospital must release patients in a safe manner or else must keep them in the hospital. Letting a patient leave the hospital is not wise if the person has constant fever, infection or pain that cannot be controlled, confusion, disorientation (no sense of time or place), or is unable to take food and liquids by mouth. However, in some cases, it may be better for the person to be released because the noise and risk of catching other diseases may make it more difficult to recover. If you plan to appeal a discharge, understand the rules of Medicare, Medicaid, the HMO, or insurance plan.

Do not hesitate to call the hospital staff member (ombudsman) who is responsible for patients' rights.