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Lawmakers block civil lawsuits against SNFs

LTC Liability Monitor, May 26, 2004

Louisiana skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) can breathe a sigh of relief. A House panel on Tuesday voted against a bill that would have allowed nursing home residents to file civil lawsuits, reported the Baton Rouge [LA] Advocate.

The proposed legislation-HB1032-would have enabled residents to recuperate damages for illustrating that nursing home staff deprived them of any of 22 rights in a "Residents' Bill of Rights." This bill was an attempt to reinstate residents' ability to file suit after the state legislature did away with it last year.

Consumer advocacy groups supported the bill as a way to give SNF residents an avenue to voice complaints. Some lawmakers expressed concern that the bill would allow residents to sue over trivial issues-such as the number of cigarettes they can smoke-and lead to frivolous lawsuits, the Advocate reported.

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