Is it legal for an emergency room to discharge a patient with broken bones without first treating them?

by **amdt57** » Sun Feb 26, 2012 4:10 am

My girlfriend's father has a broken shoulder. He was recently admitted into an emergency room for medication related head trauma. (he took a few too many Soma and fell in the hallway) we had to call an ambulance and have him taken to the emergency room. we recently found out that his shoulder is broken and they refused and kind of aid to him. I'm not interested in suing for malpractice I'm more interested in knowing whether or not to avoid this hospital because of their practices.

by **fyfe** » Sun Feb 26, 2012 4:14 am

My girlfriend's father has a broken shoulder. He was recently admitted into an emergency room for medication related head trauma. (he took a few too many Soma and fell in the hallway) we had to call an ambulance and have him taken to the emergency room. we recently found out that his shoulder is broken and they refused and kind of aid to him. I'm not interested in suing for malpractice I'm more interested in knowing whether or not to avoid this hospital because of their practices.

I bet you wish you had a proper National Health Service like we do in the UK!

by **delrico** » Sun Feb 26, 2012 4:16 am

They shouldn't have sent him away without treatment of any kind. At the very least his shoulder should have been stabilized with a sling. Its actually part of a federal law from 1986. As to the person who said there is something "fishy" going on. I don't see where he is leaving out details. He simply wants information on the legality of refusing treatment of a broken bone in an emergency room.

by **blaisdell** » Sun Feb 26, 2012 4:18 am

Depends on the break, in your shoulder, unless it's dislocated, you can't really do much to treat it because it's very unhealthy to put a cast on a shoulder.

If they refused care, flat out, well, that's the problem with Republicans having too much power, only the rich get proper treatment.

by **dodya** » Sun Feb 26, 2012 4:26 am

well i'm not sure, did they do anything at all for him? if he didn't get Any treatment at all, you should sue, because i'm pretty sure they have to at least give first aid.
i went to the er with a broken shoulder and they just gave me a painkiller and put my arm in a sling and sent me home because i refused surgery. so there was nothing else they could do. btw, the doctor said my arm could heal without surgery so that's why i was discharged.

by **lintun** » Sun Feb 26, 2012 4:31 am

No matter where you are, they can't send you away for a broken bone. Assuming you live in the U.S, you should sue! It'll teach them. My family is not the suing type either but if that occurs, I would sue. Go to a different hospital.

by **chansomps** » Sun Feb 26, 2012 4:33 am

No matter where you are, they can't send you away for a broken bone. Assuming you live in the U.S, you should sue! It'll teach them. My family is not the suing type either but if that occurs, I would sue. Go to a different hospital.

Hi Reading between the lines there is a lot more to this story than you are admitting too as that stands out a mile.
as we have no idea which country this is in also we can not comment.
something smells dead fishy here.

by **jocheved** » Sun Feb 26, 2012 4:40 am

There's only one fact that is true: It is part of the conduct of doctors to treat patients, no matter who they are.

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