Hospitals Accused of Dumping Patients on Skid Row

findfirefox

Sexy Member
Joined
Oct 9, 2005
Posts
2,014
Media
0
Likes
36
Points
183
Age
38
Location
Portland, OR
Sexuality
99% Gay, 1% Straight
Gender
Male
http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=local&id=5588413
ABC7.com said:
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 20, 2007 (KABC-TV) - The Los Angeles Police Department is investigating two more alleged cases of hospital patients being dumped on L.A.'s Skid Row. In one incident, police are checking surveillance video. That investigation is centered at LAPD's Central Division Headquarters.
ABC7.com said:
The investigation has just begun. LAPD is in the preliminary stages of gather information. In fact, even the hospitals allegedly involved have not been officially notified of the complaints.

In the last several days two patients came to Skid Row, one in serious need of medical care, and the other in serious need of psychiatric care.
Security guards at the Union Rescue Mission saw video just after midnight on Sunday: A man, barefoot, face bandaged, who had just been dropped off -- not by an ambulance or a health care provider, but by a United Independent taxicab. He told the guards that he was in severe pain and could barely walk, and had come from the Veterans Administration Hospital. According to the Union Rescue Mission, it appears to be a violation of L.A.'s anti-dumping law.
The shelter says there was no notification from any hospital that a patient was coming.
"The man said he never wanted to come to Skid Row. He never asked to come to Union Rescue Mission, and as soon as he got a chance, he went back to the hospital," said Andy Bales of the Union Rescue Mission.
Two days earlier, a similar incident. A man named Brian, who carried discharge papers from Western Medical Center in Anaheim, more than 24 miles from Skid Row. A staff member notes that "Patient has no realistic plans for self-care. Patient is agitated, delusional, and threatened staff with physical harm."
LAPD is investigating both cases. "We have to determine if there was prior notification to the Mission, the shelters, on whether there's availability for beds," said LAPD Captain Jodi Wakefield.
The Los Angeles City Attorney's Office has been cracking down on hospitals that have dumped indigent patients.
In one case, a paraplegic man was left without a wheelchair or a walker. In the latest incidents there's concern that bringing patients to Skid Row could cause further injury.
The Union Rescue Mission has this message: "Find appropriate follow-up services nearby for your homeless patients. Don't send them to the mean streets of Skid Row," said Andy Bales.
"They [the hospitals] need to know that they're responsible for these patients and there's a protocol that they have to follow, and they're going to be held accountable for it," said Capt. Wakefield.
An update on the two patients: The one from the VA Hospital was returned to that hospital, but in the care of paramedics. The second man was cared for at the Union Rescue Mission for two days, then he walked off. He had no medication
Articles like these make me feel as though a completely privatized health care system is a failure, while these people may not have any money does that also mean they don’t have the right to live? I’ve always felt that no one should ever be denied any lifesaving surgery or medical care no matter what the cost. Hospitals are run too much like a business but healthcare is not a “privilege” it’s a necessity...
 

SpeedoGuy

Sexy Member
Joined
May 18, 2004
Posts
4,166
Media
7
Likes
41
Points
258
Age
60
Location
Pacific Northwest, USA
Sexuality
99% Straight, 1% Gay
Gender
Male
http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=local&id=5588413

Articles like these make me feel as though a completely privatized health care system is a failure, while these people may not have any money does that also mean they don’t have the right to live? I’ve always felt that no one should ever be denied any lifesaving surgery or medical care no matter what the cost. Hospitals are run too much like a business but healthcare is not a “privilege” it’s a necessity...


Everyone should know by now that a nationalized health care program only encourages weakness and infirmity.
 

findfirefox

Sexy Member
Joined
Oct 9, 2005
Posts
2,014
Media
0
Likes
36
Points
183
Age
38
Location
Portland, OR
Sexuality
99% Gay, 1% Straight
Gender
Male
Everyone should know by now that a nationalized health care program only encourages weakness and infirmity.

Yes because the people without healthcare are the countries healthiest and by far the strongest, just take a look at Skid Row!:rolleyes: Giving them healthcare would only fuck them over.
Hmmmm. I'm looking, but I just don't see the winking smilie in your post. Surely it must be there somewhere...
Exactly what I was thinking!
 

SpeedoGuy

Sexy Member
Joined
May 18, 2004
Posts
4,166
Media
7
Likes
41
Points
258
Age
60
Location
Pacific Northwest, USA
Sexuality
99% Straight, 1% Gay
Gender
Male
Hmmmm. I'm looking, but I just don't see the winking smilie in your post. Surely it must be there somewhere...

I'm trying to be so sarcastic as to be over the top....

Truth be known, though, I've seen people actually make this argument (or various permutations of it). i.e. Fox News reports on medical care in the US.

When it comes to the humongous mess of paperwork, liability, redundancy, greed, waste, chaos and the overall costly ridiculousness the US health care system is descnding into I can't help but be sarcastic.
 

findfirefox

Sexy Member
Joined
Oct 9, 2005
Posts
2,014
Media
0
Likes
36
Points
183
Age
38
Location
Portland, OR
Sexuality
99% Gay, 1% Straight
Gender
Male
I'm trying to be so sarcastic as to be over the top....

Truth be known, though, I've seen people actually make this argument (or various permutations of it). i.e. Fox News reports on medical care in the US.

When it comes to the humongous mess of paperwork, liability, redundancy, greed, waste, chaos and the overall costly ridiculousness the US health care system is descnding into I can't help but be sarcastic.

Ah I knew it! You forgot this ":rolleyes:" you always have to include that