Discharge Policy at Center of Patient-Dumping Cases

Los Angeles prosecutors say hospitals must establish individualized discharge plans before transporting patients to avoid potential charges related to patient dumping, NPR's "All Things Considered" reports.

In the city's latest patient-dumping investigation, officials are considering whether Downey Regional Medical Center violated the law by paying a taxi driver to transport an elderly patient to the Los Angeles Mission homeless shelter in the downtown Skid Row neighborhood.

Hospital officials say that the patient verbally consented and was properly discharged.

The segment includes comments from:

• Herb Smith, president of the Los Angeles Mission;
• Rob Fuller, chief operating officer at Downey Regional Medical Center; and
• Rocky Delgadillo, an attorney for the city.

KPCC's "Patt Morrison" on Wednesday included a discussion of the investigation. Guests included:

• Delgadillo; and
• Cara Mia DiMassa, a reporter for the Los Angeles Times (Morrison, "Patt Morrison," KPCC, 4/13).