Lawrence County has seven county run hospitals  Because three privately run hospitals are now in existence in the county, Lawrence has decided to close one of its seven county hospitals, to reduce costs to the county  The county executives want to choose a hospital to close so that its absence has the fewest negative health consequences for citizens of the county
An independent consulting firm, advising the county executives, has recommended closing the hospital with the highest fatality rate
The county hospital that is the most expensive for the county to operate is the one with the highest fatality rate.