May 15, 2007 8:39 pm US/Pacific
Death Of Woman At MLK-Harbor Hospital Investigated
LOS ANGELES (CBS) ―
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Martin Luther King Jr.-Harbor Hospital
An investigation has been launched into the death of a 43-year-old woman at MLK-Harbor Hospital.
Edith Isabel Rodriguez died last Wednesday outside Martin Luther King Jr.-Harbor Hospital in Willowbrook while in police custody, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Rodriguez was taken to the hospital by her boyfriend, Jose Prado, after complaining of intense abdominal pain. She was prescribed pain medication, but because she could not continue, she spent the night on the benches in front of the hospital. At some point later, Rodriguez ended up on the floor of the emergency room.
Prado said the police would not help Rodriguez, and instead took her into custody after determining she had an outstanding arrest warrant for a parole violation. Rodriguez died while being taken to a squad car, the Times reported.
A statement released by the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services said it "promptly reported" the death "to the appropriate regulatory agencies, as is the case with all unexpected deaths. All staff involved in this incident are being interviewed and the medical record of the patient reviewed."
Health officials declined to discuss any details of the incident, citing privacy concerns.
However, in an e-mail sent to county supervisors hours after the death, health officials said Rodriguez was treated for a recurrent problem and "had been accompanied by a boyfriend who became disruptive and police were called. The boyfriend alleges that police interfered with the care of the patient."
In that same e-mail, health officials warn that Rodriguez's family may have alerted the media about the incident.
The Board of Supervisors discussed the case in closed session Tuesday, citing "significant exposure to litigation."
"I was saddened and disappointed to hear about the death of Ms. Rodriguez," Supervisor Yvonne B. Burke said in a written statement. "Our hearts go out to her family. If someone is sick at one of our hospitals, they should absolutely receive top quality medical care. The first and foremost priority is the patient's welfare and safety."
Rodriguez's death comes at a time when county officials are working to regain full funding and accreditation for the hospital, previously known as King-Drew Medical Center.
In March, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services agreed to fund the hospital through the end of April. CMS officials will resurvey MLK-Harbor some time before August. If the hospital passes that survey, then funding will be reinstated. Should the hospital fail the survey, the contract with CMS will expire.
(© 2007 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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