• The Emergency Medical Services and Active Labor Act (EMTALA) is a law that makes hospitals liable for what is known as “patient dumping.” This happens when (1) a hospital capable of providing the necessary medical care transfers the patient to another facility, or (2) the hospital simply refuses the patient due to the person’s inability to pay for services. EMTALA was adopted to ensure that every patient for whom the hospital determines a medical emergency is either treated until the condition stabilizes or is appropriately transferred to another healthcare facility, unless the patient refuses to consent to the recommended treatment or transfer. Hospitals that knowingly, intentionally, or negligently fail to comply with EMTALA are subject to termination or suspension of Medicare provider agreements. Hospitals, as well as their physicians in charge, are also subject to civil monetary penalties of up to $50,000 for each violation of the regulations. Hospitals and physicians may also be held professionally liable in state or federal court if patients are injured as a result of improper transfer.