CHICAGO (STMW) — Police were called on Sunday to a protest at the University of Chicago Hospitals that was being held by a group who said they would not leave the Hyde Park medical center until the university commits to extend the age limit for patients at its children’s trauma center so that more trauma victims could get treatment there.
The protesters, in a statement Sunday afternoon, said they are demanding that the hospital increase the age of patients who can receive trauma care there from 16 to 21 so that more lives of South Side trauma victims can be saved, since there is no trauma care for anyone over the age of 16 on the South Side.
A group of protesters have staged a sit-in inside the hospital at 57th and Maryland, the statement said, with more protesters gathering outside. According to the statement, the protesters include community members, students and U of C alumni.
About 2:20 p.m. a 10-1 call, an emergency call for police officers asking for assistance, was issued and soon called off, but police cars were still being called to the area as of about 2:25 p.m., according to dispatch reports.
As of about 2:30 p.m., police have reported no arrests from the protest.
(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2013. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
