Final answer:
EMTALA requires on-call physicians to conduct a medical screening examination to determine if an emergency medical condition exists, provide necessary treatment to stabilize the patient or arrange an appropriate transfer to another facility, regardless of the patient's ability to pay.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA) outlines the obligations of on-call physicians when a patient presents at an emergency department. Under EMTALA regulations, on-call physicians are required to provide appropriate medical screening examinations to determine if an emergency medical condition exists. If such a condition is identified, they must either provide the necessary treatment to stabilize the patient or make an appropriate transfer to another medical facility that is better equipped to handle the condition.
It is important to note that these requirements are mandated regardless of the patient's ability to pay or their insurance status. The goal of EMTALA is to ensure that patients receive immediate and adequate emergency care and to prevent hospitals from refusing to treat individuals because of concerns about payment. Violations of EMTALA can result in significant fines for both the hospital and the on-call physician, and can also lead to lawsuits.