[humanser] Fwd: [Nfbnet-members-list] National Federation of the Blind and Disability Rights North Carolina Sue UNC Health Care and Nash UNC Health Care

Tue Dec 4 19:22:08 UTC 2018

Fellow Federationists,
Please be sure to read the following forwarded message about an
important action our organization is taking.

Warm regards,

Jonathan Franks BSW
1st Vice President
Legislative and Advocacy Chairperson
National Federation of the Blind Human Services Division

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Danielsen, Chris via NFBNet-Members-List"
<nfbnet-members-list at nfbnet.org>
Date: Mon, 3 Dec 2018 21:35:37 +0000
Subject: [Nfbnet-members-list] National Federation of the Blind and
Disability Rights North Carolina Sue UNC Health Care and Nash UNC
Health Care
To: "Danielsen, Chris" <CDanielsen at nfb.org>

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
National Federation of the Blind and Disability Rights North Carolina
Sue UNC Health Care and Nash UNC Health Care
Lawsuit Alleges Discrimination Against Blind Patients

Raleigh, North Carolina (December 3, 2018): The UNC Health Care
System, Nash UNC Health Care, and contractors systematically
discriminate against blind patients in violation of the Americans with
Disabilities Act, the Rehabilitation Act, and the Patient Protection
and Affordable Care Act, according to a lawsuit filed today. The
lawsuit, brought by the National Federation of the Blind and
Disability Rights North Carolina along with individual blind
plaintiffs, alleges that blind patients do not receive critical
communications in alternate formats - such as Braille, large print, or
electronic documents - only standard print. This causes financial and
personal hardships for blind patients and does not allow them to keep
their medical information private.

For instance, according to the lawsuit, Plaintiff John Bone is a blind
patient who visited Nash General Hospital for emergency medical care
services on two separate occasions. Each visit, he informed the
hospital that he was blind and needed to receive all his medical bills
in Braille. Mr. Bone instead received all the bills in print, and he
did not know how much money he owed or even to whom he owed money
until collection agencies pursued and threatened him. Mr. Bone seeks
to receive medical bills in Braille, so he can pay his bills without
accruing late fees, enduring harassment from creditors, and having his
credit score needlessly damaged.

Another plaintiff named in the lawsuit visits a UNC Health Care
provider at least once every six months and needs documents formatted
in large print in order to read them. During his medical visits, he is
forced to sign forms he cannot read and receives visit summaries,
follow-up medical instructions, and bills all in standard print. This
patient often must share personal medical information with third
parties to understand and follow medical instructions. He seeks to
keep his medical information private, which he can do if he receives
documents in large print.

"Blind people need and deserve the same privacy and independence in
managing our healthcare that sighted patients take for granted," said
Mark Riccobono, President of the National Federation of the Blind. "In
some cases, the ability to receive information in formats we can use
can make a life-or-death difference. With today's technology,
providing bills, medical records, and treatment instructions in
alternative formats is readily achievable, and all providers have a
moral and legal obligation to do so."

"We are representing blind individuals in North Carolina because the
failure to effectively communicate with them violates their legal
rights, increases their chances of incurring fines and damaging their
credit scores, disregards their need for independence and privacy, and
puts their very health at risk," said Virginia Knowlton Marcus,
Executive Director of Disability Rights NC, and "health care
industries have the responsibility to know and do better."

The plaintiffs are represented by the attorneys of Disability Rights
NC and the Baltimore law firm of Brown, Goldstein & Levy LLP.

###

About the National Federation of the Blind
The National Federation of the Blind (NFB), headquartered in
Baltimore, is the oldest and largest nationwide organization of blind
Americans. Founded in 1940, the NFB consists of affiliates, chapters,
and divisions in the fifty states, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico. The
NFB defends the rights of blind people of all ages and provides
information and support to families with blind children, older
Americans who are losing vision, and more. We believe in the hopes and
dreams of blind people and work together to transform them into
reality. Learn more about our many programs and initiatives at
www.nfb.org<http://www.nfb.org>.

About Disability Rights North Carolina
Disability Rights North Carolina is part of the federally mandated
protection and advocacy system for people with disabilities and it is
responsible for redressing incidents of disability discrimination
throughout the state of North Carolina. Learn more about Disability
Rights North Carolina at
www.disabilityrightsnc.org<http://www.disabilityrightsnc.org>.

CONTACT:
Chris Danielsen
Director of Public Relations
National Federation of the Blind
(410) 659-9314, extension 2330
(410) 262-1281 (Cell)
cdanielsen at nfb.org<mailto:cdanielsen at nfb.org>

Virginia Knowlton Marcus
Executive Director
Disability Rights North Carolina
(919) 856-2195
virginiaknowltonmarcus at disabilityrightsnc.org<mailto:virginiaknowltonmarcus at disabilityrightsnc.org>

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-- 
The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the
characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the
expectations of blind people, because low expectations create
obstacles between blind people  and our dreams. You can live the life
you want; blindness is not what holds you back.