Patient Dumping
Rivers, Tabitha E
Historically, American law did not require hospitals to admit patients, despite sporadic legislative attempts to change this practice. In 1986, however, President Reagan signed the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) into law. Before the enactment of EMTALA, most hospitals enjoyed the commonlaw "no duty" rule, which allowed them to refuse treatment to anyone. Hospitals believed indigent patients should receive care through chari...