Can the ER turn me away?
Most ERs cannot simply turn you away. EMTALA requires an appropriate emergency screening, but it does not guarantee every test, treatment, or admission.
treatment
Why didn’t I get antibiotics?
Antibiotics can be lifesaving. They can also be useless, harmful, or simply the wrong treatment. The difficult part is knowing which situation you’re in.
Why didn’t they admit me?
"You have a blood clot... you're going home." It sounds contradictory, but hospital admission isn't based on the diagnosis alone. Emergency physicians decide whether you need something that can only be provided safely in the hospital—and medicine has changed dramatically over the past few decades.