LA sets fines for homeless patient dumping

A new proposed Los Angeles ordinance would charge hospitals $25,000 in fines if they dump homeless patients on Skid Row. The measure, which would make it a misdemeanor for hospitals to move patients anywhere but their homes without written consent, follows a string of high-profile cases in which homeless patients were left on Skid Row by several area hospitals. (California legislators are also considering legislation which would make patient dumping a crime [1].)

These include a recent case in which a surveillance video captured a homeless 63-year old patient discharged from Kaiser Permanente's Bellflower hospital wandering in the street on Skid Row in a hospital gown [2]. After that incident, city attorneys filed false imprisonment and dependent care endangerment charges against the hospital. Kaiser settled with the city [3], agreeing to adopt new discharge rules, better train employees and submit to monitoring by a former U.S. attorney.

To find out more about the measure:
- read this Associated Press article [4]

Related Articles:
Police consider L.A. patient dumping charges. Report [5]
Kaiser faces patient dumping charges. Report [2]
Kaiser settles patient-dumping charges. Report [3]
CA law would ban patient dumping. Report [1]
Hospitals accused of dumping homeless. Report [6]
L.A. hospital investigated for patient dumping. Report [7]