What does EMTALA stand for?

EMTALA stands for the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act. This federal law was enacted in 1986 to ensure that anyone coming to an emergency department is provided with stabilizing treatment regardless of their insurance status or ability to pay. The primary goal of EMTALA is to prevent "patient dumping," where individuals are transferred to other hospitals or denied treatment based on their financial status.

The law mandates that hospitals must provide a medical screening examination to determine if an emergency medical condition exists and, if so, to provide treatment to stabilize the patient before transferring or discharging them. This acts as a safeguard to ensure that all individuals have access to emergency care when it is needed, reflecting the importance of patient rights in the healthcare system.