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Support While Receiving Medical Treatment During COVID-19
Disability Rights Pennsylvania has an excellent resource that reviews the rights of patients with disabilities and their application during COVID-19. The attached document answers the following important questions:
- Do federal disability civil rights laws apply to hospitals/medical providers during COVID-19?
- Does it violate the law for a hospital/medical provider to prohibit a patient with disabilities from having a support person or interpreter?
- Must the hospital/medical provider allow a sign language or other professional interpreter or qualified reader if necessary, for the patient to understand and communicate with medical providers?
- Must the hospital / medical provider allow a parent, advocate, or other supporter for a patient with cognitive or mental health disability?
- Must a hospital allow the patient’s personal care assistant to be present?
- Can the hospital/medical provider place restrictions on visitors when the ADA, RA and ACA allow them?
- What should I do to help a person with a disability who is denied a supporter or communicator?
Please send any suggestions or questions related to this article or requests for additional resources to RA-basprovidersupprt@pa.gov.