Lawsuit filed to reopen Charity Hospital

Source: New Orleans Times-Picayune

Attorneys representing seven uninsured patients filed a lawsuit Thursday to force the state to reopen Charity Hospital or make other provisions to care for thousands of people with diabetes, cancer, chronic mental illness and other conditions that have deteriorated from lack of access to health care since Hurricane Katrina.

Louisiana State University reopened University Hospital after the storm to provide safety net care to the region's uninsured, but the attorneys argued that University does not provide the full complement of services that were available at Charity. University has 171 staffed beds, compared to 550 at the two hospitals before the storm....

"The unlawful closure of Big Charity had had a devastating impact on the greater New Orleans area," the lawsuit says. "Among other things, thousands of residents lack basic health care, the chronically ill go untreated, and critical specialty care is either delayed or unavailable."



Read more: http://www.nola.com/news/index.ssf/2008/01/lawsuit_filed_to_reopen_charit.html

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Meanwhile, LSU is teaming up with the VA to build a shiny new mega-medical complex -- right over top of the largely African American, low-income Tulane/Gravier neighborhood which has been struggling mightily to rebuild since the Federal Flood.

And just a mile or so out Canal Street, a Georgia-based real estate developer has plans to demolish the Lindy Boggs medical center that has been closed since the flood, and replace it with bland, suburban-style big-box stores. I guess it would have made too much sense for LSU to simply relocate up there. :eyes:

We NEED medical care. Please K & R.

Posted by chickensalad on 01/17/08 at 1:05PM
Ah, it is now "unlawful" to not provide haelth (sic) care to the indigent or poor?

Posted by govtwatchdog on 01/17/08 at 1:18PM
Open Charity NOW.

That way, those of us with insurance can get immediate help at our hospitals and doctors offices. Nothing worse than having to wait in line behind someone who got in a fight at a club so you can get treated for a real injury/sickness.

Posted by doncos on 01/17/08 at 1:35PM
Hey, this sounds like something that the almighty Rev. Jesse (EXTORTIONIST) Jackson could sink his teeth into. Where is (sic) Quigley, Loyola Univ, Obama and the ACLU? They must be distracted by the presidential primaries.

(If doncos had RTFA, he would know that Bill Quigley of Loyola Univ. of N.O. is indeed involved with this suit.)

Posted by 27addresses on 01/17/08 at 2:06PM
How can people without health insurance have the money to pay for a lawsuit? Additionally, are they not aware that a hurricane devastated the city? Souldn't (sic) they move to some other community that can address their health needs? What's wrong with people who cannot care for themselves?

(If 27addresses had RTFA, s/he would know that the attorneys are working pro bono.)

:puke:

edit: extra 'sic'

http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/frontpage/index.ssf?/base/news-26/120063729340330.xml&coll=1

"The unlawful closure of Big Charity has had a devastating impact on the greater New Orleans area," the lawsuit says. "Among other things, thousands of residents lack basic health care, the chronically ill go untreated, and critical specialty care is either delayed or unavailable."

Unlike the city's decision to close four major housing projects, the demise of Charity never provoked a massive hue and cry among advocates for the poor. The lawsuit grew out of the efforts of a handful of activists, including James Moises, the former director of Charity's emergency room, and Brad Ott, a graduate student and former patient, who kept the issue aflame with a few protests in front of the forlorn hospital....

The lawsuit describes how patients such as Lucille Moore of New Orleans, who suffers from thyroidism, an enlarged heart and blurry vision in her left eye, have had to travel several hours to safety-net hospitals in other parts of the state since Charity closed. Moore needs surgery to restore her vision, and the closest hospital that will perform it is in Bogalusa. (50 miles away, as the pelican flies -Ed.)

Because the surgery takes place over three days and the hospital will not keep her overnight, Moore will have to pay for a hotel. She also will have to pay a cab or find someone to drive her there because there is no public transit between New Orleans and Bogalusa.

Anyone still think the non-response to Katrina is a shameful part of our past?

Disclaimer/shoutout: Mr. Ott is an acquaintance of mine from my days in the general progressive activist community down there. He has focused his activism on health care issues since experiencing some health challenges a while back.

edit: italics