Maryland Hospital Settles Case Involving Patient Dumping Allegation

On February 10, 2020, Maryland General Hospital, Inc. d/b/a UM Medical Center Midtown Campus (UMMC), Baltimore, Maryland, entered into a $106,965 settlement agreement with OIG. The settlement agreement resolves allegations that, based on OIG's investigation, UMMC violated the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA), when it failed to provide an adequate medical screening examination and stabilizing treatment for a 22-year old female patient. Specifically, the patient presented to UMMC's Emergency Department (ED) on January 9, 2018, via ambulance. The patient was diagnosed with a contusion of the face and lip abrasion, and was discharged. The patient refused to sign the discharge forms, stated that she was homeless, and refused to exit the premises. The patient was escorted by security off of UMMC's property wearing only a hospital gown and socks. The following day, the patient retuned to UMMC's ED via ambulance after a bystander called 911. The bystander found the patient at a bus stop outside the hospital in 30-degree weather. A nurse told the patient that she would need to go to a shelter if she did not have a place to stay. The patient was then discharged without receiving a medical screening examination or being stabilized. Associate Counsel Candace Ashford represented OIG.

Share