Even a person who didn't sign papers the last time they were there. We waited and waited we signed no papers upon arrival and when we started to leave they wanted papers signed for the triage, we never seen a doctor or anything, we quite simply got tired of waiting for someone to come to the room. There was never anyone to come to the room at all. We started to leave and they said we needed to sign papers and I refused, so that we could dispute it when we got a bill. The next time we need to go to this hospital, can they refuse service? Please support your answer. This is in Tennessee. Thank you, your help will be greatly appreciated.
2007-01-19 16:51:39 · 9 answers · asked by matthewkeithsmart 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
No emergency room can refuse service for any reason.
2007-01-19 17:03:54 · answer #1 · answered by Kikyo 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Yes they can! However, they cannot refuse to treat you if you are acutely ill and need to be stabilized. Then they transfer you after that however!
Some hospitals can't refuse you like those run by a city or those who are required to give so much free medical care a year in exchange for low cost government funding of building projects! Hospitals do not generally tell you that these funds are available!
They use terms like "medically indicated" as to whether you even need services. There is no way they can make that determination without you going through Triage which will generate a bill!
Long waiting times at hospitals are often used as deFacto refusal to provide treatment!
2007-01-19 17:40:19 · answer #2 · answered by cantcu 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The problem is that many think the ER is supposed to be a place or those without insurance to get seen for minor things, like the sniffles or a substitute Primary Care Physician to take care of a chronic issue. ER's were never meant for those issues. They were set up for those needing EMERGENCY treatment, due to injury or accident. The job of the ER is to stabilize the patient and get them through the immediate crisis. It is not their job to provide dialysis, take care of yeast infections, or colds. You are not suppose to go to the ER every time your kid scrapes his knee or has the flu. That is what your family doc is for. If you go to the ER and your main complaint is that you have a headache or your ear hurts, don't get upset if you have to wait 6 hours to see a doc. The waiting room may be full of others with minor complaints and it may seem like they forgot you, but what you don't see is that just beyond the doors that lead into the ER they may be getting bombarded with Ambulances bringing in heart attacks, overdoes, accident victims, etc that will have priority over you. The ER will not turn you away, but they will triage patients and those who can wait to be seen will.
2016-05-23 23:47:21 · answer #3 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe it is unlawful for an federal funded hospital to refuse services. But if there is another hospital in your area I would just go there. They cant bill you for services rendered if they gave you no service. I have noticed people who are on state funded insurance always are the last to be looked at. I hope this was not your case. If it was , you should talk to the director of the hospital!
2007-01-19 17:01:27 · answer #4 · answered by bunnicula 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is against federal law for a hospital to refuse treatment to anyone (including illegal immigrants) who come to their emergency room.
"The Federal Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act" mandates this.
2007-01-19 17:19:59 · answer #5 · answered by LeAnne 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If the patient really needs help and if you sign papers when you go that time they shouldn't be able to. They shouldn't be able to refuse service to anyone that's in need.
2007-01-19 16:57:58 · answer #6 · answered by l1v1n9 D34D 91R| 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Can Emergency Room Deny Treatment
2017-01-13 11:05:24 · answer #7 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No,but hope they do you will be a rich man,i have done the same thing in tenn an told theme i was not paying for the triage
2007-01-19 16:58:25 · answer #8 · answered by bigdogrex 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They can if it is not an indigent hospital.Indigent means a County or public funded hospital that has to treat people who live in that county.
2007-01-19 16:56:44 · answer #9 · answered by Jim C 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋