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ACS Home
Donate to ACS Foundation
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For Surgeons
For Patients
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About Us
Become a member and receive career-enhancing benefits

Our top priority is providing value to members. Your Member Services team is here to ensure you maximize your ACS member benefits, participate in College activities, and engage with your ACS colleagues. It's all here.

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ACS Brief

Rising Incidence in Discharges Against Medical Advice Requires Targeted Interventions

November 4, 2025

Discharge against medical advice (DAMA) has been associated with increased morbidity and higher healthcare costs, but its impact on major surgical populations remains understudied. In this video, Dr. Timothy Pawlik discusses his recent article in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons (JACS), which found that the rising incidence and costs of DAMA highlight the need for targeted interventions to reduce preventable readmissions and optimize resource usage. Free access to JACS is among the many benefits of ACS membership.

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