The nurse is working in the ED when a client in labor comes in and says that she does not have health insurance, but wants to know if a doctor will see her. The nurse understands that the client’s right to emergency services, regardless of ability to pay, is provided by which piece of legislation?
The Patient’s Bill of Rights was adopted by the President’s Advisory Commission on Consumer Protection and Quality in the Health Care Industry. This bill states that all clients are entitled to be screened and receive stabilizing treatment from emergency services, regardless of the ability to pay. HIPAA prohibits the release of private health information. There is no Continuity of Care Act. The Code of Ethics for Nurses provides guidance on professional practice based on ethical principles.
