BALTIMORE — The Department of Justice says its agreed with Johns Hopkins Health System to enter a consent decree that would resolve alleged violations of the Americans Disabilities Act (ADA).
A complaint filed in the United States District Court of Maryland accuses Hopkins of "denying people with disabilities equal access to medical care by excluding their necessary support persons."
According to Maryland U.S. Attorney Erek Barron, Hopkins on numerous occasions failed to follow their own policies in letting disabled patients be accompanied by a family member or aide when receiving medical treatment.
"Support persons can help individuals with disabilities to communicate, such as providing their medical history and answering questions, and to understand what is happening, such as medical instructions they are given during their care and discharge," the DOJ said Thursday in a release.
A Hopkins spokesperson said the allegations are without merit, and stem from strict protocols implemented during COVID 19.
"This is an amicable resolution that allows us to move forward and continue to focus on the provision of patient care. During that unprecedented time, we recognized the importance of care partners for patients and had clear policies available on our hospital websites. We remain committed to inclusive, accessible care and continuous improvement in our practices, and will provide updated trainings for our team members."
A judge still needs to sign off on the consent decree before it can go in effect.
Under the proposed agreement, Hopkins, without having to admit liability, would pay $150,000 to settle patient claims.
