Here’s a half-decent summary of how mandatory arbitration clauses strip away patients and families’ ability to hold bad nursing homes accountable for abusive care. It’s only half right, though, as the writer misses the most significant problem with mandatory arbitration clauses.

Too often, they come with rules that make pursuit of any claim impossible. As well, they often play into a rigged system by forcing arbitration with an organization that is notorious for finding against consumers.

When our parents and grandparents are subjected to abusive care in a nursing home, there needs to be a fair and open system that allows the family to hold the bad nursing home accountable. But when a mandatory arbitration clause prohibits going to court, when it bars claims under laws that provide for damages and attorney fees, and when it requires secrecy, families lose.

It’s even worse in the nursing home context because too often the family member who is placed in the care facility didn’t even have the ability to make an informed choice. What’s more, the family is often presented a thick stack of forms to sign that are take-it-or-leave-it deals. In other words, it’s a farce to say that grandpa chose arbitration.

Congress is starting to look at this. Let’s hope they take real action.

David Sugerman

Nice report in The Oregonian today about a nursing home verdict Looks to me like the jury felt strongly about dignity for our seniors.  I’m taken by the comments of the lawyer defending the nursing home that this was a surprise. Hard to fathom, as most of us have parents or grandparents who have been at the stage where late-life care is a major issue. And no one wants to see our loved ones treated so poorly.

David Sugerman