Charting
AMA medical abbreviation
AMA has 2 common meanings: "against medical advice", "American Medical Association". The context of the note or order decides which one is meant.
Each meaning matched at least two public references (6 in all for AMA), checked October 23, 2026. The table lists them.
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2 meanings of AMA
| Meaning | Latin origin | Where used | Checked against |
|---|---|---|---|
| against medical advice | None | Charting | |
| American Medical Association | None | Charting |
Example
Sample discharge note: "left AMA."
A made-up line that shows the abbreviation in place. It is not about any patient and is not an instruction.
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Questions
What does AMA mean in medical terms?
AMA has 2 common meanings: "against medical advice", "American Medical Association". The context of the note or order decides which one is meant.
Where is AMA used?
AMA shows up in charting. Its category here is charting.
Is AMA on the Joint Commission Do Not Use list?
No. AMA is not on the Joint Commission Do Not Use list or the ISMP error-prone list as checked on October 23, 2026.