Unsafe Patient

On my neuro placement I was treating a patient who had had a stroke. She had not been badly affected however she suffered from diplopia and verticality issues. Therefore my treatment was focused primarily on treating the patient's verticality issues. This improved fairly quickly and soon the patient was able to walk with stand by assistance. However she still very definitely needed that stand by assistance as she would periodically stumble to the right. To add to her problems she also displayed quite marked perceptual deficits.

From the allied health point of view this lady was going to need quite intense rehab over a prolonged period of time as she was very young and still working in management. However, after about a week in hospital I got news that the doctors were looking at discharging her to her home in the coming days. I was completely shocked about this and had multiple conversations with other allied health team members only to find that they were in total aggreance with myself. I was told that all I could do was write clearly in the notes that the patient was not safe for discharge and explain why. So i did this every day in capitals but it did not make a difference. The resident and registrar both noted our inputs but the consultant still wanted to discharge the patient.

I couldn't believe it and asked if I should talk directly to the doctor but my supervisors laughed and said it would not help at all and that I would just get my head bitten off. I don't understand why some doctors are so stubborn and will not take advice from the allied health team. This patient was clearly not safe and would probably be re-admitted with a fall. Not to mention there was no way she could work in management again.

I think if i was a qualified physio I would have approached the doctor but as I was only a student i felt it was not my place to make such calls. What would you have done?