Feliciano-Rivera v. Medical & Geriatric Admin. Services,
No. CIV.02-1376(PG) (D.P.R. Mar. 27, 2003)

The U.S. District Court for Puerto Rico granted summary judgment to a diagnostic treatment center, dismissing a patient's claim that the center had violated the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA). The patient alleged he was refused medical treatment for an open wound after he informed the staff at the center that he had no insurance. The center argued that it was not a hospital as it did not comply with the federal requirements for hospitals, it did not provide 24-hour nursing care, and did not provide care to inpatients. In light of the patient's failure to file an opposing motion, the court held that the center had advanced sufficient evidence tending to show that it was not a participating hospital.