A Misdirected Patient Transfer Raises Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act Liability Issues

William M McDonnell; Maurice K Lawton; Mark G Roback

doi:10.1097/PEC.0000000000000869

A Misdirected Patient Transfer Raises Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act Liability Issues

Pediatr Emerg Care. 2016 Aug;32(8):529-31. doi: 10.1097/PEC.0000000000000869.

Authors

William M McDonnell¹, Maurice K Lawton, Mark G Roback

Affiliation

¹ From the *Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE; †Department of Emergency Medicine, and ‡Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN.

PMID: 27490726
DOI: 10.1097/PEC.0000000000000869

Abstract

Children often require transfer to pediatric hospital emergency departments (EDs) after evaluation in community hospital EDs. Such transfers are regulated by the federal Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act. Unusual circumstances, such as logistical errors in the physical transfer of the patient, may increase Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act-related liability risks for hospitals and ED physicians.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

Anti-Allergic Agents / administration & dosage*
Anti-Allergic Agents / therapeutic use
Child, Preschool
Diphenhydramine / administration & dosage
Diphenhydramine / therapeutic use
Emergency Service, Hospital / organization & administration
Epinephrine / administration & dosage
Epinephrine / therapeutic use
Humans
Hypersensitivity / diagnosis*
Hypersensitivity / drug therapy
Liability, Legal*
Male
Methylprednisolone / administration & dosage
Methylprednisolone / therapeutic use
Patient Transfer / ethics
Patient Transfer / legislation & jurisprudence*
Ranitidine / administration & dosage
Ranitidine / therapeutic use
Treatment Outcome

Substances

Anti-Allergic Agents
Ranitidine
Diphenhydramine
Methylprednisolone
Epinephrine