MD Now Medical Centers are not appropriate for life-threatening situations. These true emergency medical conditions must be judged by the reasonable prudent layperson standard. A reasonably prudent layperson is defined by the federal government as a clear-thinking adult with an average knowledge of health and medicine.

The Prudent Layperson Standard for Emergency Room (ER) visits has been defined as seeking Emergent Care ... for medical, maternity or psychiatric emergencies that would lead a prudent layperson to believe that a serious medical condition exists or the absence of medical attention would result in a threat to the person's life, limb, or sight, and requires immediate medical treatment. This includes situations where a person presents with severe pain. In other words, the individual believes his/her health or life is in danger, and emergency medical intervention is needed.

Federal law defines an emergency medical condition as follows :

An "emergency medical condition" means a medical condition manifesting itself by acute symptoms of sufficient severity (including severe pain, psychiatric disturbances, and/or symptoms of substance abuse) such that the absence of immediate medical attention could reasonably be expected to result in:

• Placing the health of the individual (or, with respect to a pregnant woman, the health of a woman or her unborn child) in serious jeopardy
• Serious impairment to any bodily functions
• Serious dysfunction of any bodily organ or part

If you are having a medical emergency, go to the nearest hospital or dial 911.

Some examples of medical emergency include but are not limited to:

Possible heart attack. You are having severe chest pain including sweating and/or nausea.
Poisoning
Convulsions
Loss of consciousness
Other acute medical conditions

Note the difference between a medical emergency described above and urgent care described as follows: Urgent care is a medically necessary treatment that is required for illness or injury that would not result in further disability or death if not treated immediately. The illness or injury would require professional attention and should be treated within 24 hours to avoid further complications.

“An emergency is when immediate police, fire, or medical assistance is necessary to protect life or property. If an emergency situation arises, ask yourself one important question.

Is there an immediate need for police, fire, or paramedics to protect or save life or property? If you can answer, "yes" to this question, then dial 9-1-1 .”

If you think or feel that there is an emergency, but are not sure, ASSUME IT IS AN EMERGENCY and USE 9-1-1 .

For further information, contact Palm Beach County Fire Rescue or Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office.  

IMPORTANT: This information is provided solely as a convenience to you and is not meant to be legal or medical advice. This information, as well as other information on the MD Now Medical Center web site should not be considered complete nor should it be relied on to suggest a course of treatment for a particular individual. Please click here and read our other disclaimers.