City of Angels Medical Center Charged with Elder Abuse & Negligence

According to an article on Market Watch.com, a complaint has been filed against the City of Angles Medical Center-Downtown Campus in Los Angeles for neglecting to care for a 76-year-old patient who has the mental capabilities of a six-year-old. The elder abuse and negligence claim was filed in the Los Angeles County Superior Court after the patient, Lawrence Garcia, went missing on September 11 and has yet to be found. Garcia, in addition to his mental limitations, also suffers from diabetes and is currently undergoing chemotherapy for cancer at the medical center.

Leo Garcia, Lawrence's brother and legal guardian, claims that City of Angles acted negligently when it left his mentally challenged brother alone in the hospital's crowded lobby, rather than assigning someone to wait with him until his ride came to pick him up. The claim also charges that the facility failed to follow Federal and State laws with regards to properly training its staff on how to work with and care for mentally challenged patients.  

"Would City of Angels have left a six-year-old child alone in that crowded lobby?" asked James Morgan, plaintiff attorney for Garcia. "That is exactly what they did when they left Lawrence alone. And to add insult to injury, when I spoke to the administration about Lawrence yesterday, they said they didn't know where he was and he wasn't their responsibility."

"We have to get the word out. Lawrence needs his medication and is totally unable to care for himself or protect himself on the street," said Morgan. "Never should someone have to die alone and sick on the streets of Los Angeles.

Garcia who has gray thinning hair, weighs 150 pounds, and is 5'7'' tall, has difficulty walking due to his chemotherapy treatments. He was last seen wearing jeans, a gray t-shirt, and sandals without socks.     

If you have any information about Lawrence Garcia's whereabouts, Morgan asks that you contact the Los Angeles Police Department, Rampart Division, at (213) 485-5381.

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