Emergency Medical Labor and Treatment Act (EMTALA)

I will probably get slammed for this; but, a lot of people seem to forget that medicine and hospitals are BUSINESSES. There is nothing in our Constitution, Bill of Rights, or Declaration of Independence that guarantees everyone to medical care whether they can pay or not. If a person who could not pay walked into a grocery store and just took food that they needed; they would be arrested. If that same person went into a store wearing tattered clothes and shoes and took what they needed; they would be arrested. If they had no transportation and no way to pay for it and they took a car from a car dealer or went onto a bus, train, or plane and expected to ride for free; they weould be put off the conveyance and/or arrested. If someone is homeless, they cannot just go into any house they like and start living there; they would be arrested. So why is medical care any different. In many countries of the world, it is not any different. Most governments do NOT provide free emergency medical care and they do not REQUIRE hospitals to provide it to people who cannot pay. In the US, at this time, we do have laws that prevent people from being turned away from emergency rooms for EMERGENCY conditions until their condition is stable. There are also state and federal programs to provide routine medical care to people who cannot afford it. With our economy in the condition it currently is in, there is a question of how long and how much free medical care hospitals and charitable programs can keep providing these services. How many hospitals will end up going bankrupt or closing their doors? How many states will have to try to borrow money or cut other programs to try to meet the "need" for freemedical care for people who cannot afford it?

Only an elitist like Michelle Obama, who actually gets to take a leave of absence from her job for 4 years, would come up with a program like this. Like her husband, she is a radical socialist. Just think of all the poor people who voted for her husband. Only she can be proud to be an American when her husband is nominated for president. Only she can be talking out of one side of her mouth criticizing the white man for everything he has done to blacks, including poor blacks, while she herself set up a plan like this to shuffle poor blacks and white and every other color of the rainbow to some community hospital because they cannot afford decent necessary procedures. She is just as dangerous as her husband.

I found that article very interesting. I think the whole socialized medicine idea is crazy. If people will just look at other countries, they may see where we will be heading. If we went back to personal responsibility, paying cash, the prices would go WAY down.

Yeah thats sad again. Well now even this, out of all the other things, but well as i said b4, no1 can judge him, he is unknown and mysterious, only time can tell.

Very scary,for sure! I had read about Michelle and her deeds before the election. If she is allowed to help make policy in the White House, then she will be much more pushy than Hillary ever was. And, with the liberals controlling all phases of the government,then there is no telling what is in store for us through the national health program.

Thanks for the post redyellowblackdog. I remembered my lecture in nursing about EMTALA, and it's actually being applied here in the Philippines. Despite the understaffed hospitals and lack of high-tech equipment all the patients are given free treatment in our government run hospitals, and only private hospitals are asking for payment. Even so, private hospitals can't turn away any patient seeking help. It's a good reminder of equality among citizens. I had no idea Michelle Obama was involved in something like this though. Thanks for the update.

Another strike against Obama! What a shame that the "Three Strikes and You're Out" rule obviously does not apply to the Obamas.

This won't be a serious news story, no more than the many lawsuits challenging the 0bamunist's eligibility, or his violations of the Logan Act, or any of the other many things that the 0bama Propaganda Machine refuses to cover. The OPM has already declared it to be their responsibility to see that the 0bamunist's Administration is a success.... so stories like this will be subjected to the usual whitewash and then quickly and quietly pushed out of sight. The socialists never allow the facts to deter them from their agendas.

You know I am glad that this cannot be done to the sick, we all deserve the right to be treated if that is what we need or want, reguardless if we have the cash or insurance or not. To me money is not everything, sometimes we need to open our hearts and help others without getting something in return. I forsee a lot of changes happening in the medical system and I feel it is long overdue, thanks for sharing this info and happy mylotting to you,