Hospitals fined for violations

By Francisco Vara-Orta, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer August 19, 2008 Monday marked the fourth time the department has disciplined hospitals since a state law went into effect last year authorizing the agency to fine them for placing patients in serious jeopardy. Hospitals are fined $25,000 for each incident that "has caused, or was likely to cause, serious injury or death to patients," August said. The agency has issued 61 such penalties to 42 hospitals since the state law was enacted last year, including those announced Monday.