California Health Department Issues ‘Deficiency’ Finding Against Planned Parenthood Clinic For Failing To Report Death Of Patient
July 9, 2007 – 11:03 pm | posted in Abortion, Women's Health / OBGYNThe California Department of Health Services on Friday issued a “deficiency” finding against Planned Parenthood of San Diego and Riverside Counties’ Riverside Clinic for failing to report in a timely manner the death of a patient who received an abortion, the Los Angeles Times reports. The health department did not fault the care provided to the patient at the clinic, according to the Times.
A Riverside woman, Edrica Goode, on Feb. 14 died of toxic shock syndrome at Riverside County Regional Medical Center after undergoing an abortion at the PPSDRC clinic. Goode’s mother, Aletheia Meloncon, in a lawsuit is alleging that the clinic and medical center were negligent in treating Goode. According to the Times, the suit alleges that a nurse at the clinic inserted cervical dilators, which are used to expand the cervix in second-trimester abortions, even though Goode had an infection. The suit also alleges that the dilators caused the infection to spread to the rest of Goode’s body.
The health services department in its deficiency ruling said that “based on medical record reviews and staff interviews, the [clinic] failed to report an unusual death occurrence involving a patient’s death within 24 hours to the department.” Lea Brooks, a spokesperson for the department, said the clinic is required to submit a plan of correction to the state within 10 days. Brooks added that the department also is investigating whether Goode received proper care at the medical center.
Vince Hall, a spokesperson for PPSDRC, said the clinic will respond in a timely manner. Hall in a statement said, “The health and safety of our patients is our highest priority,” adding, “We appreciate the findings of the Department of Health Services that there was no criticism of the care and treatment rendered by Planned Parenthood” to Goode (Abrams, Los Angeles Times, 7/3).
“Reprinted with permission from http://www.kaisernetwork.org. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at http://www.kaisernetwork.org/dailyreports/healthpolicy. The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork.org, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation . © 2005 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.
You must be logged in to post a comment.