Financial Problems Besetting the UCI Medical Center

Your articles about the UCI Medical Center eloquently describe the level of health care for the poor in Orange County. Other hospitals’ practice of “dumping” impecunious patients is unconscionable; fortunately, UCI Medical Center is there to pick up these unfortunate people who are without funds to provide for their basic health needs. This function provided by the center should provide more than enough justification for the Legislature’s actions to ensure its existence.

Isn’t it ironic that our county, blessed with one of the lowest doctor-to-patient ratios in the world, faces such a problem? After reading your articles, I will never again take my group medical card for granted--nor the UCI Medical Center.

--STEVEN J. GOETZ

Irvine