[Nfbespanol-talk] En Español, National Federation of the Blind and Disability Rights North Carolina Sue UNC Health Care and Nash UNC Health Care

[Frida Aizenman]

De: Danielsen, Chris vía NFBNet-Members-List

<nfbnet-members-list at nfbnet.org>

A: Danielsen, Chris

<CDanielsen at nfb.org>

A: Danielsen, Chris

<CDanielsen at nfb.org>

Lunes, 3 de Diciembre 2018 21:35:37 +0000

Asunto: La Federación Nacional de Ciegos y la Officina de Derechos 
Civiles, Disability Rights North Carolina Entablan Una Demanda Contra 
los Cuidados de Salud de UNC Health Care y Nash UNC Health Care

PARA LA DIFUCIÓN INMEDIATA

La Federación Nacional de Ciegos y la Officina de Derechos Civiles, 
Disability Rights North Carolina Entablan Una Demanda Contra los 
Cuidados de Salud, UNC Health Care y Nash UNC Health Care

La Demanda Alega Discriminación Contra Pacientes Ciegos

Raleigh, North Carolina (Diciembre 3, 2018): UNC Health Care System, 
Nash UNC Health Care, y Los contratistas discriminan sistemáticamente en 
contra de los pacientes ciegos,

así violando la Ley de Americanos con Discapacidad, la Ley de 
Rehabilitación y la Ley de Protección del Paciente y Cuidado de Salud a Bajo

Precio,

de acuerdo con

una demanda entablada hoy. La demanda, llevada a cabo por la National 
Federation of the Blind y Disability Rights North Carolina junto con 
demandantes ciegos individuales,

alega que los pacientes ciegos no reciben comunicaciones críticas en 
formatos alternos, como Braille, letra ampliada o documentos 
electrónicos, solo

inprenta estándar. Esto causa dificultades económicas y personales para 
los pacientes ciegos y no les permite mantener su información médica 
privada.

Por ejemplo, de acuerdo con la demanda, el demandante John Bone es un 
paciente ciego que visitó el Hospital Nash General para servicios de 
atención médica de emergencia en

dos ocasiones separadas. En cada visita, le informó al hospital que 
estaba ciego y que necesitaba recibir todas sus facturas médicas en 
Braille. El señor Bone en cambio

recibió todas las facturas impresas, y no sabía cuánto dinero debía ni a 
quién le debía dinero hasta que las agencias de cobro lo persiguieron y 
lo amenazaron. El señor Bone busca recibir facturas médicas en Braille, 
para que pueda pagar sus facturas sin acumular recargos por demora, 
soportar el acoso de los acreedores, y tener

Su puntaje de crédito innecesariamente dañado.

Otro demandante nombrado en la demanda visita a UNC Health Care provider 
por lo menos una vez cada seis meses y necesita documentos formateados 
en letra ampliada

Para leerlos. Durante sus visitas médicas, se le obliga a firmar 
formularios que no puede leer y recibe resúmenes de visitas, 
instrucciones médicas de seguimiento,

y facturas todo en inprenta estándar. Este paciente a menudo debe 
compartir información médica personal con terceros para comprender y 
seguir las instrucciones médicas.

Él busca mantener la privacidad de su información médica, lo que puede 
hacer si recibe documentos en letra ampliada.

"Las personas ciegas necesitan y merecen la misma privacidad e 
independencia en el manejo de nuestra atención médica que los pacientes 
videntes dan por

hecho", dijo Mark Riccobono,

Presidente de la Federación Nacional de Ciegos. "En algunos casos, la 
capacidad de recibir información en formatos que podemos usar puede 
marcar una diferencia

de vida o muerte.

Con la tecnología actual, es fácil obtener facturas, registros médicos e 
instrucciones de tratamiento en formatos alternos, y todos los proveedores

tienen

Una obligación moral y legal de hacerlo".

"Estamos representando a personas ciegas en North Carolina porque la 
falta de comunicación efectiva con ellos viola sus derechos legales, aumenta

sus posibilidades de incurrir en multas y dañar sus puntajes de crédito, 
ya que ignoran su necesidad de independencia y privacidad, y ponen en 
riesgo su salud",

afirmó Virginia Knowlton Marcus, Directora Ejecutiva de Disability 
Rights NC, y "Las industrias del cuidado de la salud tienen la 
responsabilidad de saber y hacerlo mejor".

Los demandantes están representados por los abogados de Disability 
Rights NC, y el bufete de abogados de Baltimore de Brown, Goldstein & 
Levy LLP.

###

Acerca de la Federación Nacional de Ciegos

La Federación Nacional de Ciegos (NFB, con sede en Baltimore, es la 
organización más grande y antigua de estadounidenses ciegos

en todo el país. Fundada

En 1940, la Federación se compone de filiales, capítulos y divisiones en 
los cincuenta estados, Washington DC y Puerto Rico. La Federación 
defiende los derechos

de las personas ciegas

de todas las edades y proporciona información y apoyo a las familias con 
niños ciegos, los estadounidenses mayores que están perdiendo la vista

y más. Creemos en

Las esperanzas y los sueños de las personas ciegas y trabajamos juntos 
para transformarlos en realidad. Infórmese más sobre nuestros muchos 
programas e iniciativas

en

www.nfb.org

<http://www.nfb.org>.

Acerca de la Oficina de Derechos Civiles, Disability Rights North Carolina

Disability Rights North Carolina forma parte del sistema de abogo y 
defensa federal para personas con discapacidades y es responsable de

Reparación de incidentes de discriminación por discapacidad en todo el 
estado de North Carolina. Infórmese más acerca de Disability Rights 
North Carolina en

www.disabilityrightsnc.org

<http://www.disabilityrightsnc.org>.

CONTACTO:

Chris Danielsen

Director de Relaciones Públicas

National Federation of the Blind

(410) 659-9314, extensión 2330

(410) 262-1281 (Celular)

cdanielsen at nfb.org

<mailto:cdanielsen at nfb.org>

Virginia Knowlton Marcus

Directora Ejecutiva

Disability Rights North Carolina

(919) 856-2195

virginiaknowltonmarcus at disabilityrightsnc.org

<mailto:virginiaknowltonmarcus at disabilityrightsnc.org>



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

Disclaimer

The information contained in this communication from the sender is confidential. It is intended solely for use by the recipient and others authorized to receive it. If you are not the recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or taking action in relation of the contents of this information is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful.

This email has been scanned for viruses and malware, and may have been automatically archived by Mimecast Ltd, an innovator in Software as a Service (SaaS) for business. Providing a safer and more useful place for your human generated data. Specializing in; Security, archiving and compliance. To find out more visit the Mimecast website.
_______________________________________________
NFBNet-Members-List mailing list
NFBNet-Members-List at nfbnet.org
List archives:  <http://www.nfbnet.org/pipermail/nfbnet-members-list_nfbnet.org>
To unsubscribe from NFBNet-Members-List:
goto http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbnet-members-list_nfbnet.org/nfbfrida%40gmail.com