Patient dumping should be a crime that is prosecuted with jail time

The University of Maryland Medical centers CEO and President apologized to a patient who was discharged to the street wearing only a patient gown and socks.  She was a victim of hospital dumping. That occurs when hospitals dump patients they do not know what do  with. The patient was left at a bus stop  by four security guards from the hospital. Temperature at the time was in the mid 30's. She was disoriented and unable to speak.

Imamu Baraka, a psychotherapist was leaving work across from the hospital. He filmed the situation, when he realized what was happening. The guards were unconcerned when they left an almost naked woman at a bus stop. He placed a phone call to the hospital. The guards came out and brought the woman inside. Mr. Baraka placed his video on his facebook page after waiting two hours to make sure the patient was not dumped again.

The hospital eventually sent the woman by cab to a homeless shelter. That is where the 22 year old woman's mother found her. She had viewed the video of what happened and realized the woman was her daughter that she had been looking for.

One man took the time to make a difference. He saw an injustice and stepped up to the plate. The cold weather could have caused hypothermia in the woman. A mentally ill person may not know to not step in front of a car. There are so many ways this could have been fatal.

My question is why didn't the hospital send her to a homeless shelter to start with.  Unfortunately it was an easy way out because a mentally ill patient was agitated and had no were to go. To prevent future problems, put the patient on hold till administration and risk management lawyers review the patients situation. If they are dangerous, call the police. They are less judgmental most of the time and better trained to deal with the situation. Remember these are human beings and not bags of garbage.

I watched news feeds and read information from the following links before blogging.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baltimore

http://www.baltimoresun.com/health/bs-hs-what-is-patient-dumping-20180111-story.html

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/university-of-maryland-medical-center-patient-dumping-mother-speaks-out-viral-video/

http://www.baltimoresun.com/health/bs-hs-hospital-video-follow-20180111-story.html

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/11/us/baltimore-hospital-patient-woman.html

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/woman-filmed-on-street-in-hospital-gown_us_5a577e38e4b0616638288d39

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/local/wp/2018/01/10/video-shows-apparently-incapacitated-half-naked-woman-put-out-in-cold-by-baltimore-hospital/?utm_term=.70115551de18

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/woman-baltimore-hospital-discharge-outside-video-gown-a8154186.html

http://www.cnn.com/2018/01/11/health/baltimore-hospital-patient-video-bus-stop-trnd/index.html