This is a particularly interesting piece of legislation that is being introduced in Maryland. The explosion of nursing home litigation against nursing home for abuse and neglect has put them in a very defensive posture so many will fight to keep monitoring out of their facility. But the recent introduction of government rating system has revealed the dangerous state of the nursing home facilities in the US. It is important to allow monitoring. It is important as a record and important that the employees of the facilities know they are under scrutiny. The following article outlines the legislation.

FREDERICK, MD – Some local lawmakers are trying to make it illegal for nursing homes to prevent people from installing cameras in patient’s rooms. A bill that’s making its way through the house would require nursing homes to give people the choice of installing cameras that the patients or their families would pay for themselves. Cameras would not be allowed in bathrooms. All rooms being monitored would be required to have a sign on the door. For families, it’s legislation that would bring them piece of mind. Tyonja Bathgate, whose husband is in a nursing home, said, “He can no longer talk, so if something happens during the day, he can’t tell me any longer. If he wants a drink, he can’t call out.” On Tuesday, members of the House of Delegates will hear testimony on the bill.

via MD Bill Addresses Cameras in Nursing Homes.