Court Opinion

ID: 9479988
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-05 07:34:44.835736+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:47:24.841484
License: Public Domain

NATHANIEL R. JONES, Circuit Judge,
concurring.
I agree with the majority that the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act does not apply to the instant ease, because Elease Thornton’s “emergency medical condition” had stabilized. Thornton had received emergency care and stayed in the hospital for three weeks. Though she was ready for rehabilitation, she could not afford it. In this circumstance, the Act does not seem to apply to Thornton. The Act was designed to prevent hospitals from either turning down or dumping indigent patients. It was not a measure to force hospitals to provide long-term care for uninsured patients.
I write separately only to emphasize that the evidence of Thornton’s condition presented by Southwest Detroit Hospital was barely adequate. Thornton claims that her medical symptoms at the time of discharge were “unstabilized,” as evidenced by blood in the urine, I.V., a catheter, high blood pressure, and an inability to walk or care for herself. However, Thornton’s personal and treating physician, Dr. Williamson, felt that her condition had stabilized enough to release her from the hospital. The record does not show any affidavits produced by Southwest to dispute Thornton’s assertions that she had an uns-tabilized emergency medical condition at the time of her release. In a case as clear-cut as this one, the lack of affadavits is not relevant, for the release by the physician is enough evidence. However, in future cases, I suggest that before deciding that there is no material issue of fact, the district court should examine affadavits as to the patient’s condition. For the foregoing reasons, I respectfully concur in the court’s decision.