    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1998, Book I)]
    [May 29, 1998]
    [Page 853]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on Withdrawal of Medicare Funding for Ravenswood Hospital in
    Chicago, Illinois
    May 29, 1998

        Today my administration informed the president of Ravenswood
    Hospital in Chicago, Illinois, that the
    hospital will lose its Medicare funding on June 21, 1998, unless the
    facility takes steps to ensure that the events that led to the tragic
    death of 15-year-old Christopher Sercye
    are never repeated.
        On May 16, Christopher died of gunshot wounds just 35 feet from
    Ravenswood, where friends had brought the young man for help. There is
    simply no excuse for this. No one should be left untreated just
    footsteps from a hospital entrance. No health care professional should
    turn the other way, and no supervisor should direct an employee not to
    intervene in a medical emergency.
        That is why the Health Care Financing Administration delivered a
    letter today advising Ravenswood Hospital that unless it provides
    credible evidence that its policies have been restructured, it will lose
    all Medicare funding next month. This administration stands ready to
    take the same strong action against any facility that does not assist in
    a medical emergency.
        I am also extremely pleased that the American Hospital Association
    has released new guidelines that advise hospitals to change any policies
    that prevent taking appropriate actions in a medical emergency. We
    cannot reverse this inexplicable tragedy, but we can and must take
    action so that it does not happen again.