title: A Misdirected Patient Transfer Raises Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act Liability Issues.
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.
authors.affiliation: 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.
authors.forename: William M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: McDonnell
authors.forename: Maurice K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Lawton
authors.forename: Mark G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Roback
mesh_terms: D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004155:Diphenhydramine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D016365:Liability, Legal; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010360:Patient Transfer / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D011899:Ranitidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents; D011899:Ranitidine; D004155:Diphenhydramine; D008775:Methylprednisolone; D004837:Epinephrine