Massachusetts General Hospital v. City of Chelsea

This action was brought under G. L. c. 117, § 24A, inserted by St. 1959, c. 584: “If hospital care is furnished to a person in need of public assistance by any person not liable by law for his support, the town wherein he resides at the time his hospitalization begins . . . shall be liable for the expense of such care necessarily incurred under this chapter after notice and request . . ..”

The report shows that the plaintiff furnished hospitalization to Christina Doucette of Chelsea from July 29, 1960, to August 13, 1960, the date of her death, at the rate of $30.79 a day; that at the time of…