"Patient Dumping" Alleged Against White Memorial

In the latest case of suspected hospital “patient dumping” on Southern California streets, a court complaint filed last week accuses a hospital and doctor of improperly discharging a patient against his will and dropping him off in front of a homeless shelter.

The complaint alleges that White Memorial Medical Center personnel used plastic restraints to tie the hands of patient Jesse Bravo, loaded him into a van, dropped him off in front of a homeless shelter and didn’t follow up to make sure he was admitted.

Bravo, who [has schizophrenia] and who had requested to be taken to his mother’s house, wound up wandering Skid Row for two nights and dislocated his shoulder in an attack, the complaint said. He had no warm clothing, money, ID or medication, court papers said.