The Virginia General Assembly has taken some important steps in response to a report published by the disAbility Law Center of Virginia, showing hundreds of deaths in the developmental disability community that were unexpected and possibly preventable. The shocking results in dLCV’s study generated a great deal of public attention.
HB 1370 (Mehta) requires the Department of Behavioral Health to develop and implement regulations requiring all providers to conduct regular medical drills, similar to fire drills, and to have all staff trained in CPR. In dLCV’s study, we found a shocking number of incidents where staff delayed response to a medical crisis while they called their supervisor, left the home to look for help, or responded in panic. Regular medical drills will reduce the delays in responses and provide the person in crisis with valuable time and a better chance of survival. The bill was approved by the House Committee on Health and Human Services last week, and will be debated by the full House later this week.
HB 1380 (Seibold) would also require the development of regulations to conduct regular medical drills, as above. However, Delegate Seibold’s bill requires the Department to use sanctions of increased severity when there are repeat or serious offenses. The Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services has placed a large fiscal impact on this bill, claiming that they expect more than 1500 repeat violations that threaten health and safety every year, and that they lack the resources to respond to those repeat violations. The bill was approved by the House Committee on Health and Human Resources last week, but now goes to the House Committee on Appropriations because of the fiscal impact. It may be heard in subcommittee later this week.
The mission of the disAbility Law Center of Virginia is to advance independence, choice and self-determination; protect legal, human and civil rights; and eliminate abuse, neglect and discrimination of people with disabilities through zealous and uncompromising legal advocacy and representation.