homeless dumping

English

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Noun

homeless dumping (uncountable)

1. (idiomatic) The practice of hospital employees or emergency workers releasing homeless patients on the streets instead of placing them into the custody of a relative or shelter or retaining them in a hospital where they may require expensive medical care.

   Synonym: patient dumping

   • 2007. Police probe alleged L.A. homeless dumping. MSNBC via Associated Press, February 9, 2007, Los Angeles [1]:

     A hospital van dropped off a homeless paraplegic man on Skid Row and left him crawling in the street with nothing more than a soiled gown and a broken colostomy bag.... Police said the incident was a case of "homeless dumping" and were questioning officials from the hospital.

   • 2006. L.A. Police Allege Homeless Dumping, Associated Press, October 25, 2006, Los Angeles:

     Authorities have launched a criminal investigation into suspected dumping of homeless people on Skid Row after police witnessed ambulances leaving five people on a street there during the weekend.