Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) is a federal law enacted by congress in 1986 to put a stop to unethical practices and ensure that people arriving to the emergency department are guaranteed treatment and stabilization for a legit emergency, nevertheless of their insurance standing or capability to provide finances for treatment or services. EMTALA defines emergency as a severe condition that can manifest and place the person's health and well being in danger. EMTALA is also known as the "anti-dumping" law, created to stop hospitals from moving Medicaid and uninsured patients who lack financial resources to pay for treatment or services, to public hospitals without at least conducting a medical screening to confirm the patients safety and stability for relocation. In 2000, Congress made EMTALA a priority, with fines over $1.17 million. It became the healthcare policy for the uninsured patients admitted to the emergency room.
The history of ETMALA dates back to 1986, when articles by doctors in Chicago from Cook County hospital revealed the degree of patient dumping in their hospital. They define patient dumping as “the denial of or limitation in the provision of medical
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Because of EMTALA patients will no longer be turned away for economical reasons. They will be attended to with medical screening and examinations no matter the condition. Patient dumping" became an issue when so many unstable people were turned away or transferred started to have more difficulties with their health condition because they were not attended to on the spot at the time. Many hospitals participated in this practice and it was only endangering the patient’s health and life. The purpose of health care is to meet the medical needs and the safety and well being of a