Washington, D.C.-based United Medical Center's board of directors reportedly plans to sue the D.C. Office of Open Government rather than release a recording from the meeting in which officials reportedly voted to close the hospital's maternity ward, according to The Washington Post.
Here are five things to know about the situation.
1. UMC Board Chairman LaRuby May told The Washington Post the board would be seeking "judicial review" of the OOG's order against the hospital last month.
2. Traci L. Hughes, director of the OOG, which is responsible for ensuring district officials and boards conduct their business in public when required by law, ruled last month the board must make an audio recording of its closed-door meeting and roll-call vote, as well as any documents board members reviewed during the meeting, public. The ruling also stipulated the board must undergo voluntary training on open-meeting requirements.
3. Ms. Hughes' ruling came after the D.C. Open Government Coalition, The Washington Post and the Washington Business Journal filed complaints with her office regarding the board's actions, according to a previous report by The Washington Post.
4. Ms. May also confirmed the board's intent to take legal action against the OOG to the publication. However, she did not specify which part of the OOG's ruling the board disagreed with, according to the report.
5. The board voted last December to close the hospital's obstetrics ward. At the time of the vote, the hospital maternity ward had been temporarily closed for months due to safety issues cited by district health officials. However, board officials had reportedly decided to privately move forward with the ward's closure before regulators ordered the temporary shutdown.
To access the full Washington Post report, click here.