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The problem is, who determines if it is an emergency or not. Illegal family brings their daughter to the ER for an infant's ear infection. Er determines they are illegal and the ear infection is not an emergency. they are turned away. Three days later the infant dies from the infection. Despite these folks being illegal, there would be a 10 mile long line of attorneys waiting to sue the federal government and the hospital. Not to mention the supreme court and international law has stated time and time again it is against all human rights laws both dometic and international to deni health care.
The most amazing thing is, if you or I go to Mexico and cannot pay, they will literally chain you to the hospital bed until you, or a family member pay for your services.
The problem is, who determines if it is an emergency or not. Illegal family brings their daughter to the ER for an infant's ear infection. Er determines they are illegal and the ear infection is not an emergency. they are turned away. Three days later the infant dies from the infection. Despite these folks being illegal, there would be a 10 mile long line of attorneys waiting to sue the federal government and the hospital. Not to mention the supreme court and international law has stated time and time again it is against all human rights laws both dometic and international to deni health care.
Great point, Travelmate . . . but isn't that why God invented GPs?
Actually I wouldn't mind if the hospital treated the baby with the ear infection.....as long as ICE picked the family up at the hospital and drove/flew them back to their country of origin. You know, follow the law
Option #2 sounds quite reasonable at first glance. However...........
Under the coercive EMTALA, an ER is obligated by law to see anybody who shows up, regardless of just about anything. The EMTALA applies to ERs in hospitals that accept payment from Medicare/Medicaid (which is basically all ERs). The problem with the option of refusing medical care to an illegal alien unless it is an emergency is that a) they have to be seen by law anyhow and b) in the hands of a capable malpractice attorney any complaint can be turned into an emergency. I have no doubt that consulates and ethnic advocacy groups help spread the word so that illegal aliens are aware of their 'right' to 'free' medical care.
My own opinion on illegal aliens and healthcare is that they should be seen and evaluated in an ER, which we have to do by law anyhow. If they require additional treatment or hospital admission, their condition should be stabilized and they should be returned to their home country to receive the necessary care.
Quote:
The Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (42 U.S.C. § 1395dd, EMTALA) is a United States Act of Congress passed in 1986 as part of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act. It requires hospitals and ambulance services to provide care to anyone needing emergency treatment regardless of citizenship, legal status or ability to pay. There are no reimbursement provisions. As a result of the act, patients needing emergency treatment can be discharged only under their own informed consent or when their condition requires transfer to a hospital better equipped to administer the treatment.
EMTALA applies to "participating hospitals", i.e., those that accept payment from the Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) under the Medicare program. However, in practical terms, EMTALA applies to virtually all hospitals in the U.S., with the exception of the Shriners Hospitals for Children, Indian Health Services, and military VA hospitals.
Hospitals have three main obligations under EMTALA:
Any individual who comes and requests must receive a medical screening examination to determine whether an emergency medical condition exists. Examination and treatment cannot be delayed to inquire about methods of payment or insurance coverage. Emergency departments also must post signs that notify patients and visitors of their rights to a medical screening examination and treatment.
If an emergency medical condition exists, treatment must be provided until the emergency medical condition is resolved or stabilized. If the hospital does not have the capability to treat the emergency medical condition, an "appropriate" transfer of the patient to another hospital must be done in accordance with the EMTALA provisions.
Hospitals with specialized capabilities are obligated to accept transfers from hospitals who lack the capability to treat unstable emergency medial conditions.
Maybe they should have a citizens waiting room and an illegal waiting room where th ecitizens are treated in the actual hospital by the doctors they pay for, and the illegals are served by one doctor in a seperate area. I dont like going to the hospital and hearing all these illegals run amuck in the waiting room. I swear, last time I was there the waiting room was occupied with 60% or more people who spoke no english and we had to wait about 4 hours.
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