Medical School Brings Lawsuit Against L.A. County

Officials from a Los Angeles medical school on Tuesday announced that the school would seek $125 million from Los Angeles County related to the reduction of services at Martin Luther King Jr./Drew Medical Center, the Los Angeles Times reports (Rosenblatt, Los Angeles Times, 3/7).

Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science's lawsuit alleges that the county broke a contract agreement dating back to 1972 that says the school would provide medical interns and residents to the hospital in exchange for monthly payments (AP/Contra Costa Times, 3/7).

University officials in November voted to temporarily close the school's residency program while it rebuilds and finds a new affiliate teaching hospital. The school aims to re-establish its residency program by 2008. The university lost its national accreditation after King/Drew failed a federal inspection and lost Medicare funding (California Healthline, 12/18/06).

County health officials in a statement said they are "disappointed that Drew has chosen to pursue a lawsuit rather than work constructively with the county" as it tries to regain the confidence of the federal government (Los Angeles Times, 3/7).

The school plans to reapply for accreditation in 2008 (AP/Contra Costa Times, 3/7).

KPCC's "Air Talk" on Tuesday reported on the suit. The segment includes discussions with:

• Rachel Myrow, a correspondent for KPCC who attended the press conference announcing the suit; and
  
• Susan Kelly, president and CEO of Drew University (Mantle, "Air Talk," KPCC, 3/6).
  

The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday also approved a measure to increase fines for some criminal offenses to help fund new and existing trauma centers, emergency care and 26 new health department positions in the county, the Los Angeles Times reports.

The new law will increase certain criminal penalties by $2 for every $10. The law will expire in 2009 and is expected to raise about $33.3 million.

The increase in fines was authorized last year by state legislation (Los Angeles Times, 3/7).

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday also agreed to settle a lawsuit filed last year by nine bathhouses and sex clubs over county health regulations on commercial sex venues, the Los Angeles Times reports.

Jonathan Fielding, county director of public health, said that under the settlement, business operators "basically agreed to adhere to" county regulations but have the right to file a complaint about potential violations of the law or their rights. Fielding said the county has requested that signs, condoms, lubricant and adequate lighting be available to discourage high-risk sex (Los Angeles Times, 3/7).