Hospital Officials Were Warned Repeatedly About Prominent Pasadena Obstetrician, But Nothing Was Done
A Los Angeles Times investigation uncovered numerous allegations against Dr. Patrick Sutton, the vice chair of obstetrics and gynecology at Huntington Memorial Hospital. Unease about Sutton was so widespread at Huntington that some nurses adopted a policy of misleading him about the progress of a woman’s labor to keep him out of the delivery room for as long as possible, according to interviews with more than half a dozen current and former nurses.
Los Angeles Times:
More Than 20 Women Accused A Prominent Pasadena Obstetrician Of Mistreating Them. He Denied Claims And Was Able To Continue Practicing
A Times investigation identified more than 20 women who claim [Dr. Patrick] Sutton mistreated them during his medical care. Their allegations date to 1989, his first year at Huntington, and include unwanted sexual advances, medical incompetence, the maiming of women’s genitals and the preventable death of an infant. Sutton denied each allegation in an interview with The Times. Top Huntington administrators were warned repeatedly about Sutton over the decades, according to interviews with current and former administrators and other hospital employees. One obstetrician at the hospital told The Times she complained to Huntington’s chief medical officer and its compliance department on several occasions about what she saw as his poor clinical judgment and misogynistic remarks. (Ryan and Hamilton, 12/9)
In other news from across the state —
Los Angeles Times:
Laguna Council To Consider A Daytime Pilot Program At The Alternative Sleeping Location
Homelessness, public safety, sidewalk vendor regulation and grant funding are on a packed agenda for the first regular meeting of Laguna Beach’s newly configured City Council. Officials on Tuesday are expected to adopt a resolution reaffirming the city’s commitment to caring for people who are homeless and disabled and announcing a pilot daytime drop-in program at the Alternative Sleeping Location. (Pinho, 12/7)
KQED:
Richmond Looks To Get Out Of Managing Its Low-Income Housing
Richmond will search for outside public and private partners to manage its low-income housing properties and Section 8 voucher programs, the City Council decided this week. Faced with major financial and operational challenges and ongoing federal budget cuts, the Richmond Housing Authority has long struggled to meet the basic needs of its tenants, many of whom are elderly and physically impaired. (Veltman, 12/7)
Modesto Bee:
Modesto City Council Approves Tax Rate For Marijuana Retailers
The Modesto City Council has approved an 8 percent tax for cannabis retail businesses. The council at its Dec. 4 meeting also approved tax rates for other types of cannabis businesses in Modesto, including distribution, microbusiness, manufacturing, indoor cultivation and testing labs. (Ahumada and Rowland, 12/9)