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SOME OF THE WORST CONFIRMED PATIENT DUMPING CASES
CALIFORNIA: Mercy Hospital, Merced
- A non-verbal mentally retarded patient was brought by ambulance to an ER with symptoms of abdominal distress and shortness of breath. An on-call surgeon repeatedly refused to come in to evaluate and treat the patient, and the patient suffered a cardiac arrhythmia and died, despite a resuscitation attempt. Documentation revealed that the surgeon made disparaging remarks related to this patient’s mental retardation, including the statement that "no one would miss him if he died," as he had lived in a board and care home for fifteen years. No HHS fine as of April 2001
FLORIDA: Baptist Hospital, Miami
- A woman presented to an ER with abdominal pain. She was found to have a large mass in her lower abdomen as well as an elevated white blood cell count, possibly indicating infection. She was admitted for surgery. Before the surgery took place, the surgeon visited the patient and requested a deposit prior to his performing the procedure. The patient stated she did not have the deposit, so the surgeon gave orders to discharge her. She left without receiving treatment. No HHS fine as of April 2001
GEORGIA: Colquitt Regional Medical Center, Moultrie
- A patient arrived at an ER and received a screening exam. This patient suffered from kidney failure and had required dialysis treatments several times a week to remove excess fluid and waste products from the bloodstream. The patient’s screening exam demonstrated fluid volume overload and probable heart failure (indications that the patient likely needed another dialysis treatment), EKG abnormalities, poor oxygenation and possible pneumonia. A nephrologist (kidney specialist) contacted by the ER physician refused to admit the patient or give a dialysis treatment until the following day. The patient died at home approximately seven hours after she was discharged. No HHS fine as of April 2001
GEORGIA: Houston Medical Center, Warner Robbins
- A patient presented to an ER complaining of loss of appetite, a swollen and painful stomach, and of vomiting blood. This patient’s pulse rate was markedly elevated and hemoglobin level was low, symptoms that may indicate blood loss. He was treated with infusion of an IV solution, given prescriptions and discharged. An ambulance returned him to the same ER approximately five hours later, in full cardiopulmonary arrest. He was pronounced dead six minutes later. No HHS fine as of April 2001
ILLINOIS: Ravenswood Medical Center, Chicago
- Friends dragged a fifteen-year-old boy suffering from an abdominal gunshot wound to the alley next to a hospital’s ER and requested help from ER staff. ER staff refused to go out to treat the boy or bring him into the ER. After police officers repeatedly came into the ER asking staff to come out and help, a police officer wheeled the child into the ER in a wheelchair. Despite resuscitation efforts, he died. Hospital paid a $40,000 HHS penalty
MARYLAND: Harbor Hospital Center, Baltimore
- A hospital security officer requested ER assistance for an individual found lying in the parking lot. ER staff refused to provide assistance. After emergency medical technicians manning a nearby private ambulance determined that the individual had no pulse and was not breathing, the security officer made a second request, this time informing staff that the individual had no pulse and was not breathing. This request was also refused. An ER physician was brought out to assist by the security officer and the patient was eventually taken to the ER by ambulance. Shortly thereafter he was pronounced dead. The Hospital agreed to pay $35,000 to resolve the Inspector General investigation into the incident.
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