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| Public Act 097-0485 | ||||
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AN ACT concerning public health.
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Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
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represented in the General Assembly:
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Section 5. The Medical Patient Rights Act is amended by | ||||
changing Section 5 and adding Sections 5.1 and 5.2 as follows:
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(410 ILCS 50/5)
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Sec. 5. Statement of hospital patient's rights.
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(a) Each patient admitted to a hospital, and the guardian | ||||
or authorized
representative or parent of a minor patient, | ||||
shall be given a written
statement of all the rights enumerated | ||||
in this Act, or a similar statement of
patients' rights | ||||
required of the hospital by the Joint Commission on
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Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations or a similar | ||||
accrediting
organization. The statement shall be given at the | ||||
time of admission or as soon
thereafter as the condition of the | ||||
patient permits.
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(b) If a patient is unable to read the written statement, a | ||||
hospital
shall make a reasonable effort to provide it to the | ||||
guardian or authorized
representative of the patient. | ||||
(c) The statement shall also include the right not to be | ||||
discriminated against by the hospital due to the patient's | ||||
race, color, or national origin where such characteristics are | ||||
not relevant to the patient's medical diagnosis and treatment. | ||||
The statement shall further provide each admitted patient or | ||
the patient's representative or guardian with notice of how to | ||
initiate a grievance regarding improper discrimination with | ||
the hospital and how the patient may lodge a grievance with the | ||
Illinois Department of Public Health and the Illinois | ||
Department of Human Rights regardless of whether the patient | ||
has first used the hospital's grievance process.
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(Source: P.A. 88-56; 88-670, eff. 12-2-94.)
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(410 ILCS 50/5.1 new)
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Sec. 5.1. Discrimination grievance procedures. Upon | ||
receipt of a grievance alleging unlawful discrimination on the | ||
basis of race, color, or national origin, the hospital must | ||
investigate the claim and work with the patient to address | ||
valid or proven concerns in accordance with the hospital's | ||
grievance process. At the conclusion of the hospital's | ||
grievance process, the hospital shall inform the patient that | ||
such grievances may be reported to the Illinois Department of | ||
Public Health if not resolved to the patient's satisfaction at | ||
the hospital level. | ||
(410 ILCS 50/5.2 new)
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Sec. 5.2. Emergency room anti-discrimination notice. Every | ||
hospital shall post a sign next to or in close proximity of its | ||
sign required by Section 489.20 (q)(1) of Title 42 of the Code | ||
of Federal Regulations stating the following: | ||
"You have the right not to be discriminated against by the | ||
hospital due to your race, color, or national origin if these | ||
characteristics are unrelated to your diagnosis or treatment. | ||
If you believe this right has been violated, please call | ||
(insert number for hospital grievance officer).".
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Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon | ||
becoming law.
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