Systems-Based Practice EMTALA: Ethics and the Law

Dr. Em & Dr. Taul's Emergency Room Adventure   Case 4  Watching the Basketball Game You have recently joined a group of Pediatricians in Silver Springs, Colorado.  On your first Saturday on call you receive a phone call from the local emergency room.  A 3-week-old has presented to the emergency room with a respiratory rate of 56/minutes and wheezes.  Pulse oximetry is 85%.  You instruct the ED physician to place the child on oxygen by face mask, and to administer an albuterol neb treatment.  The NCAA championship game is on, and your alma mater is 2 points ahead in the second overtime.  Your promise the ED physician that you will be in the emergency room as soon as the game is over.  Unfortunately there is a 3rd overtime, and by the time you reach the ED, the child has been transferred to Denver.  The ED physician promises to report you for an EMTALA violation, even though the child was stable at the time of the transfer. Have you violated EMTALA? Yes No Maybe ANSWER