PyQGIS - remove layer from legend

I think this function will work (for QGIS version >= 3.0) :

def rmvLyr(lyrname):
    qinst = QgsProject.instance()
    qinst.removeMapLayer(qinst.mapLayersByName(lyrname)[0].id())

Call it by :

for lyr in ['Patient Data', 'Google Maps']:
    rmvLyr(lyr)

You can try this:

for lyr in QgsMapLayerRegistry.instance().mapLayers().values():
    if lyr.name() == "Patient Data":
        QgsMapLayerRegistry.instance().removeMapLayers([lyr.id()])