Local Hospital Settles in Case of Alleged Patient Dumping

A Montebello hospital will pay $200,000 in civil penalties to settle allegations of dumping a homeless patient on Skid Row, the City Attorney's Office announced today.

Beverly Hospital, which did not admit any wrongdoing as part of the settlement, will also adopt protocols for discharging patients who do not have a fixed residence at night, as well as pay $50,000 in attorney fees to the city.

"Patient dumping is inhumane and intolerable," City Attorney Mike Feuer said. "My office will fight to protect everyone in our community, especially our most vulnerable."

The settlement will end litigation initiated by Feuer's office in December.

City attorneys accused the hospital of dumping a patient around May or earlier. The complaint accused Beverly Hospital of failing to perform a medical screening on the homeless patient, failing to stabilize and transfer the patient and improperly discharging the patient to Skid Row.

The hospital, working with city attorneys, has since drawn up homeless discharge policies and revised its rules and procedures for medical screening and involuntary psychiatric holds, according Feuer's office.

-- City News Service