"Hospital Accused of Keeping 2 AIDS Patients in Hallway"

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1990. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

"Hospital Accused of Keeping 2 AIDS Patients in Hallway"

New York Times (12/21/90), P. B1
Morgan, Thomas

Abstract: New York University Medical Center faces charges of discrimination brought by two AIDS patients who were kept on beds in emergency room hallways because the hospital's policy did not allow them to share private rooms with patients with other illnesses. New York City's Human Rights Commission accused the hospital yesterday based on complaints filed by David Combs and Ronald James, both of whom have since died. The incidents occurred in late 1989, and a Medical Center spokesperson said the hospital has since changed its policy. The hospital said the old policy arose because doctors believed AIDS patients would be endangered by the illnesses of other patients in the same room. Furthermore, on any given night many patients remain on gurneys in the emergency room hallways because of overcrowding and a shortage of beds in rooms, the hospital said. Lawyers for the patients' estates seek compensatory damages.

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