The Los Angeles Times
September  28, 2002
By Charles Ornstein

Lawsuit focuses on HMO's Duty to Its Patients

The family of Murray Rosenberg, a 79-year-old Aetna member and cancer patient, filed suit against the HMO alleging that Rosenberg died after being discharged from the hospital prematurely and sent to a nursing home that didn’t coordinate care properly.Michael Bidart, attorney for the family, says the key allegation against Aetna is a hospitalist, a doctor who treats patients only while they’re in the hospital, discharged Rosenberg without consulting his family or treating doctors. The lawsuit also contends that the hospital on behalf of the hospitalists actions, had a financial incentive to release Rosenberg early.