Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Grady Health System in Georgia Settles Case Involving a Patient Dumping Allegation

On May 18, 2016, Grady Memorial Hospital Corporation d/b/a/ Grady Health System (GHS), in Atlanta, Georgia, entered into a $40,000 settlement agreement with OIG. The settlement agreement resolves allegations that GHS violated the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) when it failed to provide an adequate medical screening examination and stabilizing treatment to a patient. OIG's investigation revealed the following. The patient was extracted from his apartment by a SWAT team and brought to GHS’s emergency department (ED) by a police officer due to complaints of suicidal and homicidal ideations. While at GHS, two Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs) evaluated the patient and determined that the patient should be held involuntarily for further evaluation and treatment. Approximately five hours after the patient’s arrival in the ED, the ED physician discharged the patient without consulting the LPCs or the on-call psychiatrist. Under EMTALA, hospitals can be fined up to $50,000 per violation. Senior Counsel Sandra Sands and Associate Counsel Srishti Miglani represented OIG.

Action Details

  • Date:May 18, 2016
  • Enforcement Types:
    • CMP and Affirmative Exclusions,
    • EMTALA/Patient Dumping