3 Massachusetts Hospitals Cited for Denying Emergency Room Care to Patients

/by

Through a Freedom of Information Act request, the Boston Globe has learned that three Massachusetts hospitals have been cited for refusing emergency room care in the past six months. One of the cases involved a death while the patient was en route to another hospital.
The Globe article noted “Investigators determined that Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River failed to provide needed medical treatment before transferring the patient, who was unstable and in respiratory distress before death.
Charlton, along with St. Vincent Hospital in Worcester and the Lahey Clinic in Burlington were cited by the state.
The hospitals risk losing their right to treat Medicare and Medicaid patients, which can cost a hospital millions of dollars, and also could be fined.”
One nurse and doctor have been placed on a 30-day unpaid leave as a result of one of the incidents.

Holly Haines
Latest posts by Holly Haines (see all)