3 Discharge or continued hospitalization

The managers of designated inpatient care hospitals are required to apply every six months for confirmation of the need to continue the hospitalization of subject persons, and for their immediate discharge from the hospital if it has been deemed unnecessary for them to remain hospitalized to receive medical care. In addition, those hospitalized and their guardian or attendant can apply for permission to be discharged or for termination of their medical care at any time. Courts make the decision on whether continued medical care is necessary or not, etc. at hearings upon application. In 2010, 188 applications for permission to be discharged were filed by managers of designated inpatient care hospitals, with 102 applications for permission to be discharged from a hospital/termination of medical care being filed by those hospitalized, etc. (excluding transfers). 157 received a decision which permitted them to be discharged from the hospital (decision to allow the person to be discharged from the hospital and allow them to receive outpatient treatment) and 34 received a decision to terminate their medical care (Source: Annual Report of Judicial Statistics).