HB 3649

Abstract

Amends the Hospital Licensing Act. Provides that the Department of Public Health shall investigate every allegation of abuse or neglect of a patient received by the Department. Provides that no administrator, agent, or employee of a hospital or a member of its medical staff may abuse or neglect a patient in the hospital, and provides that any hospital administrator, agent, employee, or medical staff member who has reasonable cause to believe that any patient with whom he or she has direct contact has been subjected to abuse or neglect in the hospital shall promptly report or cause a report to be made to a designated hospital administrator responsible for providing such reports to the Department of Public Health. Sets forth other provisions concerning protection of hospital patients from abuse and neglect. Provides that if no health care surrogate is available for a patient who lacks decision-making capacity, then the hospital may contact the Guardianship and Advocacy Commission to determine the need for a temporary guardian of the person.