Hospital where woman in custody died cited for deficiencies

(AP) — The hospital where a black woman died after she was forcibly removed from the emergency room by a white police officer was cited for 10 "deficiencies," including failing to properly examine the woman when she complained of difficulty breathing, state health officials said.

The secretary for Florida's Agency for Health Care Administration said the problems at Calhoun-Liberty Hospital in Blountstown were so egregious that the 25-bed facility will face fines and could be suspended from the Medicaid program if the problems aren't fixed by March 1.

The 79-page report cited the nursing staff for failing to follow hospital policy when it didn't notify a physician or conduct an assessment to address Dawson's complaints and released her without her concerns being properly documented.

Hospital CEO Ruth Attaway said the facility has "extremely pro-active about making improvements" and is committed to meeting the deadlines set forth by the state agency.