Community Chat

[KingstonsMom]

A Baltimore hospital has launched an investigation after shocking video emerged showing staff abandoning a woman outside in the freezing cold, wearing just her gown.

The clip shows four security guards, one rolling a wheel chair, walking away from the alleged patient near a medical facility located near Mount Vernon, The Baltimore Sun reported.  

The clip, which has already racked up over 118,000 views, was posted to Facebook by Imamu Baraka, who claims to be a doctoral student in Healthcare Administration. 

'I just witnessed this with my own eyes,' Baraka wrote in his post. 'I had no choice but to give this young lady a voice in this moment.'  

In response, The University of Maryland Medical System said it has opened an investigation into the incident at its midtown campus, adding they understand the 'shock and disappointment' many have felt after watching the video.

'This unfortunate event is not representative of our patient-centered mission,' the statement said. 

'While there are many circumstances of this patient's case that we cannot address publicly, in the end we clearly failed to fulfill our mission with this patient, no matter the circumstances of her case or the quality of the clinical care we provided in the hospital.

Experts call the practice 'patient dumping,' where those suffering from chronic maladies like mental illness are abandoned on the street. 

Often the patients are not insured or have other financial issues, but it's unclear if that was the case in Baltimore, according to CBS News. 

Baraka, who could not be reached for comment, is seen in the video repeatedly asking one of the security guards why they aren't taking her to the hospital. 

'Y'all are just going to leave this lady out here with no clothes?' Baraka asks, adding  the temperature was roughly 30 degrees outside.

One of the guards eventually responds: 'Due to the circumstances of what happened.' 

According to CBS News, Baraka eventually calls the police for assistance. Medical units arrive and reportedly took the woman back to the same hospital. 

An internal hospital review is underway to evaluate the conduct of the security detail and see if any disciplinary action is warranted in the case.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5257489/Shocking-video-shows-woman-dumped-freezing-cold.html

[KingstonsMom]

So callous, heartbreaking and disgusting, all at the same time.....SMH

[cherry]

  I saw that and it made me feel sick.  I once read ,and have never forgotten a sentence, that goes something like this,  we are defined as a nation, by how we treat the very young ,and the very old.

I would give these people an F.

[Bri36]

I saw that this morning.

Words cannot describe how disturbing that truly was...

[KingstonsMom]

---

@cherry wrote:

  I saw that and it made me feel sick.  I once read ,and have never forgotten a sentence, that goes something like this,  we are defined as a nation, by how we treat the very young ,and the very old.

I would give these people an F.

---

@cherry

Agreed! And Gandhi said,

I personally believe both to be true.

[SeaMaiden]

The hosptial will not discuss their REASON  for doing what they did.... but no matter why... the woman deserved clothes/ a coat... and should have been taken to some sort of  shelter IF SHE HAD NO HOME  OR DRIVEN HOME IF SHE HAD A HOME. 

To treat another human worse than a dog when they are down and out... is unspeakable horrible... I have no words.  

This hospital ( THAT MAKES MULTI MILLIONS OF DOLLARS)  could afford to at least take the woman somewhere where she would be safe.. NOT PUT HER OUT  ON THE STREET IN THE COLD  WITH NO CLOTHES.

[Carmie]

OMG, that is so difficult to watch.  Thank God there was a medical professional, a true professional, there to witness this and take action.

What in the heck were they thinking?  How can some people sleep at night?

This is unforgivable and I hope someone loses their job.  They deserve to suffer for what they did.

[OnlyShopsOnline]

It’s a greedy, heartless world.  Is man any more civilized than 10,000 years ago?  I don’t think so. I think “we” just do a better job of faking it. 

[meallen616]

How awful!

[NicksmomESQ]

 This is exactly why we need universal healthcare in this country!! Nobody no matter what the circumstances should be tossed out on the street!! Where is our humanity? This absolutely sickens me!!