ABSTRACT
An emergency is any situation that the patient or his associates believe is life threatening, or that may result in the loss of sight, sanity, or property or loss of future health if not addressed promptly. Emergency rooms, walk-in centers, doctors on call, or previously consulted physicians often are contacted for assistance, and are expected to respond with an appropriate action. Using this definition, however, it is quite clear that many problems perceived as emergencies by the patient and his associates are less urgent in the eyes of the physician.
