EMTALA
Dear Ms. Medina,
I enjoyed the debate that you shared with Governor Perry and the Senator. I felt that you did a terrific job. However, I do have a question about EMTALA. If I understood you correctly, you said that you would repeal the law. Could you please explain your rationale? The law prevents hospitals from dumping unstable patients on another hospital and assures that emergency medical care is received regardless of a person’s insurability.
I am looking forward to your response.
Thank you,
Patty W.
Hi Patty,
Thanks for your inquiry. This is a volunteer site for Debra and not the official campaign. However, I do volunteer work for her campaign answering these kinds of questions so if you had contacted the campaign, chances are you would be hearing from me anyway.
These are actually two different laws. The EMTALA is a federal law which requires emergency rooms to treat patients who are in an emergency situation. This is not the law Debra was referring to in the debate.
The Texas Advance Directive Law was the state law under discussion (this is only a state law and not a federal one) in the debate. This law allows physicians to make decisions about providing enhanced
patient care when they (the physicians) determine that treatment is “futile”.
This means that patients are taken off life support and other means to prolong life if the physician deems that the patient won’t live even with the treatment or that their quality of life is so poor that to do so would not be in the best interest of the patient.
Many times this decision is in direct opposition to what the patient’s families want or feel is right. This is the law Debra said she would repeal.
I am not a doctor and Debra could have answered this far better than I, but even so, I hope I have clarified it for you somewhat.
Thanks for coming on the site. Hope you will revisit us soon.