Refusing to allow an individual to leave the hospital after they have refused recommended treatment is a form of which tort?

• A. False imprisonment
• B. Abuse
• C. Negligence
• D. Assault

Answer: (A)

Restraint of a person’s liberty without lawful justification is the essence of false imprisonment. In a hospital, a patient who is competent to decide has the right to leave, even if they have refused recommended treatment. Forcing them to stay or detaining them against their will without a legal basis amounts to false imprisonment because it unlawfully restricts their freedom.

This differs from negligence, which is about failing to meet the standard of care and causing harm; abuse, which involves mistreatment; and assault, which is a threat or unwanted contact. An important caveat: if a patient lacks capacity or poses a danger to themselves or others, there may be lawful pathways (such as court orders or emergency holds) that justify detention. Absent that lawful basis, detaining a patient who wants to leave is false imprisonment.