Attorney General Lockyer Blocks Closure of Daniel Freeman Marina Hospital

(LOS ANGELES) - Attorney General Bill Lockyer today asked a Los Angeles Superior Court to block the imminent closure of Daniel Freeman Marina Hospital, citing failure of Tenet Healthcare Corp. to meet public interest conditions agreed to when acquiring the nonprofit facility last year. During today's hearing in Judge Dzintra Janavs' courtroom, Tenet agreed to keep Marina open at least until August 26 and the judge set an August 13 hearing date on the Attorney General's motion to block closure of the hospital.

"Tenet has broken important promises made last year when it acquired the nonprofit Daniel Freeman facilities in Inglewood and Marina last year," Lockyer said. "Tenet was supposed to consult with various individuals and groups and the Daniel Freeman Marina Hospital governing board before making a decision on whether to close the Marina facility. Instead, the corporation let people know about the decision to close Marina after it was already made and without the required community input."

"The conditions laid down for the sale of Daniel Freeman Hospitals to Tenet are aimed at ensuring that the local community continues to have quality health care," Lockyer said. "I hope that Tenet will abide by its commitment to serve the community and take advantage of this temporary reprieve to meet with them and the hospital's governing board."

By law, the Attorney General must review nonprofit hospital transactions to ensure that they are consistent with standards set by the Legislature and state charitable trust law. Two public hearings were held in Los Angeles on the proposed transaction. Many of the conditions imposed by the Attorney General in approving the transaction were prompted by concerns raised at the hearings.