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Photo of Electric Daisy in 2009 at the Coliseum by LU5H.bunny via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr
The Electric Daisy Carnival, one of the largest events of its kind, drew almost 200,000 attendees over two days and boasted five stages for performers and a rave atmosphere in the Los Angeles Coliseum and at the adjoining Exposition Park.
But the event had its dark side, including over 100 injuries and illnesses sustained on-site that necessitated transporting victims to nearby hospitals. Several of the hurt were teens, and, at least two patients "were in the intensive care unit for drug intoxication at California Hospital Medical Center," according to the LA Times.
Now doctors from various facilities are expressing dismay that an event like Electric Daisy would be held on public land. Dr. Philip Fagan Jr., an ER doc at Good Samaritan said that raves "should never be held any longer at the Coliseum."
Other medical professionals agree:
Dr. Marc Futernick, medical director of emergency services at California Hospital Medical Center, called it "unconscionable" for a publicly owned facility like the Coliseum to host raves. "I don't know why our elected … leaders would allow these activities to take place," Futernick said.
"This is basically a government-encouraged … drug fest. That's the wrong message," said Dr. Brian Johnston, emergency room medical director at White Memorial Medical Center. "It's putting people at risk, unnecessarily. It's putting people's health at risk."