Emergency healthcare system is not to blame

Re “L.A. Targets Patient Dumping,” Dec. 22

As a professional hospital administrator, I cannot say that I don’t find it troubling that some hospitals are being accused of “dumping” their indigent patients on skid row after they are discharged. However, it is completely unfair and unreasonable for hospitals that already are responsible for providing care to 48 million people with no health insurance and millions more with grossly inadequate coverage to now be held criminally liable for not placing every homeless and poor person who comes through their doors in a suitable environment at discharge

It is an absolute disgrace that the richest nation on the planet and the governments we elect can waste hundreds of billions of dollars on wars and pork-barrel nonsense, yet cannot find the resources to provide all of its citizens with comprehensive health coverage and the neediest among us with the essentials to get back on their feet.

STUART SINGER

Long Beach

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City Atty. Rocky Delgadillo is sending warning letters to hospitals. I wonder what the warning will be? Is he suggesting that the hospital system is now required to stabilize any and all who are able to get to the emergency department? Who will fund these accommodations for the chronically unstable? Emergency departments are already shutting down because of unrealistic mandates to provide free services to the uninsured and underinsured.

Maybe his warning should be to the residents of Los Angeles: that his short-sighted plan will forever shutter what’s left of our emergency medical system. The solution to patient dumping must be a coordinated approach to develop and fund long-term goals for our indigent, mentally ill and addicted citizens.

JOEL R. HUSCHLE

Pomona