A Hospital Failed to Accommodate a Patient with Disabilities. She Pushed for Change, and Won.
Christine Getman-wearing-a-green-dress-smiling-brightly-seated-in-a-wheelchair-with-her-husband-Scottie-standing-next-to-her-resting-one-hand-on-his-thigh-Photo-credit-The Oregonian
In May 2020, a Portland hospital denied Christine Getman, a woman with severe physical disabilities, her request for the personal support she needed to both communicate and self-care while being in the hospital, due to a new policy regarding coronavirus.
Christine Getman is unable to use any of her extremities with the exception of one finger. She was denied her request for one-to-one care and access to her personal care attendant (PCA) while being treated for meningitis.
Without the support of her PCA while hospitalized, she was put at risk of being exposed to COVID-19 and missed numerous opportunities to communicate with key medical staff during her hospitalization. The lack of interaction left her in the dark about her care and discharge. She lived in fear of receiving improper care.
To prevent other patients with disabilities from facing similar barriers to basic human rights, Disability Rights Oregon and Getman called on the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) to reissue its Visitation Guidance for Acute Care Facilities to allow personal care attendant exceptions alongside proper precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19. On April 23, the agency issued a new policy.
DISABILITY ADVOCATES SECURE LEGISLATIVE VICTORY
Getman and Disability Rights Oregon worked to pass Senate Bill (SB) 1606, legislation to ensure that Oregonians with disabilities can see their families and support staff in the hospital to receive disability related support. The legislation was requested by Disability Rights Oregon, the Oregon Council on Developmental Disabilities, and the Developmental Disabilities Coalition. The legislation was championed in the legislature by Senator Sara Gelser (Corvallis).