Los Angeles Hospital Accused of Patient-Dumping

White Memorial Medical Center in Los Angeles has been accused of patient-dumping and now faces a lawsuit alleging elder abuse, false imprisonment and hospital negligence, according to a Los Angeles Times report.

The allegations stem from Jesse Bravo's visit to the hospital last year for schizophrenia treatment. Mr. Bravo's wife, Laura, claims the hospital discharged her husband without notifying her. Instead, he was allegedly left outside a rehabilitation center in South Los Angeles. He spent days on the street before being identified by the police from a missing persons report.

A pro-bono law firm has filed suit against White Memorial on behalf of Mr. Bravo. It has also submitted information to the Los Angeles city attorney's office, which is reviewing the matter.

A hospital spokesperson said Mr. Bravo was competent, alert and agreed to go to the center. Instead of patient-dumping, the spokesperson said the incident was a patient "drop-off" and the hospital had followed protocol, according to the report.

Related Articles on Hospital Lawsuits:

HIPAA Violations Abounded in 2011
False Claims Recoveries and Whistleblower Suits Reach All-Time High
Hospitals Referring Patients to Malpractice Attorneys: Conflict of Interest?

Copyright © 2024 Becker's Healthcare. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy. Cookie Policy. Linking and Reprinting Policy.

 

Featured Whitepapers

Featured Webinars

>