Law would ban dumping of homeless patients

Several city officials introduced a proposed ordinance Wednesday that would make it illegal for hospitals to discharge patients in downtown skid row without the patients' consent.

A similar bill was vetoed in mid-October by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who said existing law was adequate to stop the problem. But Los Angeles City Atty. Rocky Delgadillo and downtown Councilwoman Jan Perry say a new law is necessary because the city's only current remedy is to file civil suits against hospitals.

Officials with the Hospital Assn. of Southern California vowed to fight the proposed ordinance. Jim Lott, executive vice president of the group, said the city doesn't do enough to fight homelessness while area hospitals spend $44 million each year caring for homeless patients.