Healthcare facility's faulty video system helped lead to suit by deaf patients

Two deaf patients won the right to sue Baptist Health South Florida for discrimination


Two deaf patients won the right to sue Baptist Health South Florida for discrimination after a federal appeals court reversed a lower court’s dismissal of their case. The appeals court published a detailed opinion that advocates say spells out the responsibility for all hospitals to ensure effective communication with patients who cannot hear, according to an article on the Miami Herald website.

The patients filed a lawsuit in 2014 under the Americans with Disabilities Act after they said Baptist Hospital Miami and South Miami Hospital — both owned by Baptist Health — had refused to provide in-person interpreters of American Sign Language.

The hospitals used handwritten notes, family members as interpreters, and a video system to communicate with the on repeated visits. But, according to the patients, the video system frequently did not work and for speakers of American sign, which is structurally different from English, family interpreters and handwritten notes were inadequate.

Until the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals issued its opinion, there was little clarity on a hospital’s legal requirement under the ADA to ensure that deaf patients have the same opportunity as those who are not deaf to participate in their medical care.

Read the article.

 



May 30, 2017


Topic Area: Information Technology


Recent Posts

Healthcare Security: To Arm Or Not To Arm?

Deciding whether or not to hire armed security personnel requires that managers understand a range of critical considerations.


False Alarm at Kansas Hospital Highlights Importance of Alarm System Reliability

After a two-hour search of the hospital and nearby medical facilities, no threat was found.


Integrated Oncology Network Caught Up in Data Breach

The network first learned of the incident on April 11, 2025.


ISSA Introduces Healthcare Platform to Advance Safer, Cleaner Patient Environments

This new resource integrates training, research and cross-sector collaboration to raise care standards and improve patient outcomes.


Third-Party Tracking Settlement is a Compliance Wake-Up Call for Healthcare Facilities Managers

Mount Sinai Health System agrees to a $5.3 million settlement to resolve claims it improperly shared patient data with Facebook through tracking tools.


 
 


FREE Newsletter Signup Form

News & Updates | Webcast Alerts
Building Technologies | & More!

 
 
 


All fields are required. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.