Common Reasons Medical and Healthcare Facilities are Sued for ADA Violations

Medical and healthcare facilities can also be sued for violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) if they fail to provide access and accommodations for individuals with disabilities. Some common reasons medical and healthcare facilities are sued for ADA violations include:

  1. Inaccessible entrances: Medical and healthcare facilities must have accessible entrances for individuals with disabilities, which includes ramps, elevators, and automatic door openers.
  2. Inaccessible exam rooms: Medical and healthcare facilities must have accessible exam rooms for individuals with disabilities, which includes adequate space for wheelchair access, accessible medical equipment, and transfer assistance devices.
  3. Inaccessible waiting rooms: Medical and healthcare facilities must have accessible waiting rooms for individuals with disabilities, which includes accessible seating, sign language interpreters, and communication devices.
  4. Inaccessible restrooms: Medical and healthcare facilities must have accessible restrooms for individuals with disabilities, which includes stall dimensions, grab bars, and wheelchair accessibility.
  5. Inaccessible diagnostic equipment: Medical and healthcare facilities must have accessible diagnostic equipment for individuals with disabilities, which includes height-adjustable exam tables and accessible imaging equipment.
  6. Inaccessible medical records: Medical and healthcare facilities must provide accessible medical records for individuals with disabilities, which includes alternative formats such as Braille, large print, or electronic formats.
  7. Inaccessible communication: Medical and healthcare facilities must provide auxiliary aids and services, such as sign language interpreters or assistive listening devices, to individuals with disabilities to ensure effective communication.

It’s important for medical and healthcare facilities to ensure that their facilities and services are accessible to individuals with disabilities to avoid potential lawsuits and to provide equal access and opportunities to all patients.