December 24, 2008

FL- Justices: nursing homes exempt from records law

12-24-2008 Florida:

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) The Florida Supreme Court says a state constitutional amendment letting patients check records of past medical mistakes doesn't apply to nursing homes.

The justices ruled Tuesday in the case of a nursing home resident who allegedly choked to death on coleslaw she was served against her doctor's orders in West Palm Beach.

The decision means her estate cannot obtain nursing home records it had sought for a lawsuit against Tandem Health Care Inc., which owns the facility.

The ''Patients' Right to Know'' amendment applies to hospitals, doctors and other health care facilities and providers. The justices ruled nursing homes are not health care facilities. ..News Source.. by CBS4.com

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