State agency fines hospital $45,000 in forcible removal case

Author: The Associated Press
Published: Updated:

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) – Florida’s health care agency has issued a $45,000 fine to the hospital where a woman died after being forcibly removed.

In a 30-page document issued Wednesday, the Agency for Health Care Administration lists four counts against Calhoun-Liberty Hospital – three related to access to emergency care and services and one count of failure to evaluate a patient grievance.

AHCA Secretary Elizabeth Dudek recently called the deficiencies at the Blountstown hospital “egregious.” The facility must submit correction plans by Friday and have them in place by March 1 to avoid being suspended from Florida’s Medicaid program.

On Dec. 21, 57-year old Barbara Dawson died of a blood clot in her lungs after collapsing in the hospital parking lot while being handcuffed. Dawson refused to leave the emergency room after complaining of shortness of breath.

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