Question

A man is seen in the emergency department and is found to have a condition that the hospital is not equipped to treat. Which of the following statements is the best summary of the hospital's responsibility to the patient?

a) The hospital must transfer the patient to another facility that can provide appropriate care.
b) The hospital is not responsible for the patient's condition.
c) The hospital should discharge the patient and recommend he seeks care elsewhere.
d) The hospital can choose whether or not to provide care based on its capabilities.

Answer 1

A hospital must transfer a patient to another facility if it cannot provide the necessary care, ensuring that the patient gets proper medical treatment.

Step-by-step explanation:

The hospital has a legal and ethical responsibility to ensure that a patient receives appropriate medical care. If the hospital's emergency department encounters a condition it is not equipped to treat, the correct course of action would be to transfer the patient to another facility that is capable of providing the necessary care. This is in accordance with the duty to provide stabilization and transfer under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA), as well as considering the ethics of patient care and responsibility.

While the hospital may not be responsible for the patient's condition, the institution does have a duty to act in the best interest of the patient's health. Discharging the patient without ensuring proper care or opting not to provide care is not in alignment with ethical or legal standards in health care. Therefore, the hospital must coordinate a transfer to a facility where the patient can receive appropriate treatment.