Please do not cut more holes in the safety net! The ED is mandated by EMTALA to treat all comers and we do, proudly. Patients come to the ED because they are worried they may have a Serious or Dangerous condition, and for us to determine if there is an Emergent condition. The ED Physician and Hospital cannot "prevent the condition", we have to diagnose and treat all that come to us, by federal law. "Prudent layperson" is the standard and also the federal mandate. Please defeat this effort.
Thank you,
Edwin McLaughlin MD, Emergency Medicine Physician