Hoag Hospital and Indigent Patients

In reading the article (June 5) on the dangerous overcrowding at the obstetrics unit of the UCI Medical Center, I was somewhat amused to read the statements by Michael Stephens, the administrator of Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach. Stephens said he was uncertain whether the action by UCIMC (turning away women in labor due to overcrowding) is legal. He is quoted as saying, “As health care providers, we certainly have an obligation to patients . . . instead of telling them to go elsewhere.”

I wonder how many indigent (or Medi-Cal or others without medical insurance) patients Hoag admits. I wonder how many they will be admitting at any time in the future. Stephens says “as providers, we certainly have an obligation to the patients,” but I see nothing in the story that says he is willing to ease UCIMC’s overcrowding by taking some of these patients at Hoag. Perhaps Stephens should put his money where his mouth is.

DIANNE CANTOR

Huntington Beach