This is the only way to keep hospital honest. Patients often are not aware of the grave situation and may not have means to seek remedy.

Patricia - Of course I know what the system is. I work within it. I have fundamental differences with the status quo. You say "the State is responsible for...etc." like it's some law of nature. The State MADE itself responsible for whatever and GAVE itself the right to impose these massive fines. You say, "There are always punishments when standards of care are not met." That's because the government DECIDED to impose punishments. Laws and regulations passed by the government are not always appropriate. Otherwise the government, having passed millions of laws already, should be pretty much out of business by now. Laws and regulations are being revoked, modified and replaced all the time. I reiterate that taking money out of an already financially strained healthcare system is damaging, and if the government was so smart, they'd find another way to correct safety lapses. But they will never do that because the fines are a big source of revenue.

David and Alex I guess that you two either don't know or don't care to know that the State is responsible for licensing the hospitals and is to hold said hospitals accountable for the safety of the patients in their care. There are always punishments when the standards of care are not met.

@David D: Good point

I've never understood the purpose of these massive fines against hospitals. Clinical neglect makes them liable to be sued by the injured party and that's fair. But in my opinion the abilty of the state to fine them in addition to the civil liability is just another source of income for the state. Unfortunately in these cases it takes money out of healthcare where it would be better used than being wasted by a state that doesn't know even the basics of money management.