The Battle Over the City's Indigent Sick
A standoff between the health officer and county commissioners over who should pay for the medical care of the destitute exposes a dangerous rift in the civic safety net.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
Health Officer Palmer remains firm in his resolve to follow Mayor Ronald's directive to hold the county accountable for the care of the city's indigent sick and injured. Dr. Palmer reported to a Post-Intelligencer reporter that he has received no response from the county commissioners regarding his demand that the county assume responsibility for twelve indigent patients currently residing at Providence Hospital at the city’s expense. Dr. Palmer cited the case of Robert Dawson, a man who recently sought aid for his ill wife but was bounced between the city and county officials. 'It is simply impossible for the city to care for all of these patients,' Palmer stated, noting that the mayor intends to initiate a test case in court. The city plans to pay for the care of future patients turned away by the county, then sue to recoup the costs from the county treasury.
“It is simply impossible for the city to care for all of these patients who come to us for medical aid.”
The century-old jurisdictional ping-pong game between city and county regarding responsibility for public health and indigent care remains a core, unresolved tension in Seattle’s modern government, echoing current debates over homeless services and public health funding.
From readers
No comments yet. If you know something about this story — a correction, a family memory, a source — it belongs here.