Teenager who escaped Mayo Clinic hospital claims ‘medical abduction’

Amy Baxter | | Health Exec | Precision Medicine

Alyssa Gilderhus was 18 when she suffered a brain aneurysm and entered  Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Surgeons saved her life, but her parents were dissatisfied with her care in the rehabilitation unit and wanted her transferred.

Instead of following through with the parents’ wishes, Mayo Clinic refused to let Alyssa leave, and hospital staff attempted to get a guardian appointment to make medical decisions for her. The story was reported by CNN. To get her to another facility, Alyssa’s parents had to "break her out" and take her on the run for a few days.

According to other medical experts, the actions of Mayo Clinic were unusual, and a second opinion from another care team not owned by Mayo allowed Alyssa to be discharged and treated at home.

See the full story below:

Escape from the Mayo Clinic: Parents break teen out of world-famous hospital

Amy Baxter
Amy Baxter

Amy joined TriMed Media as a Senior Writer for HealthExec after covering home care for three years. When not writing about all things healthcare, she fulfills her lifelong dream of becoming a pirate by sailing in regattas and enjoying rum. Fun fact: she sailed 333 miles across Lake Michigan in the Chicago Yacht Club "Race to Mackinac."

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