Board for Louisiana hospital shuts meeting

The governing board of Marrero, LA-based West Jefferson Medical Center threw all discussion about how it runs the public hospital behind closed doors, and vowed to maintain the format. Attorney Peter Butler Jr. said the board adopted the new agenda format to expedite meetings. Louisiana's open meetings law requires government bodies to conduct their business in public, except during nine situations outlined by the Legislature. A separate law passed specifically for hospital service districts provides an exemption for developing "marketing strategies and strategic plans to effectively compete."