Patients Rights Bill

House Action on Patients' Rights -

"The McCain-Kennedy-Edwards patients' bill of rights, including patient advocacy/WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTION FOR NURSES, passed the U. S. Senate by a vote of 59-36 on Friday, June 29.

The House of Representatives may consider patients' rights legislation before the summer recess begins on August 3. NOW is the time to contact your U. S. Representative to urge support for the bipartisan GANSKE-NORWOOD-DINGLE companion bill,

H. R. 2563, and to vote against the weaker Fletcher alternative.

Calls to your Congressional Representative's local office are needed NOW - with a particular focus applied to our Republican Representatives - who are being lobbied by President Bush to pass a weaker bill that will eliminate whislteblower protections.

Members may be reached through the Capitol switchboard: 202-224-3121.

A sample message for your call:

"As a registered nurse (or member of the healthcare profession, etc), I urge you to support enactment of strong comprehensive, and enforceable patient protections embodied by the bipartisan Ganske-Dingell-Norwood legislation, HR 2563. Please support this bill and vote against the Fletcher bill.

The final bill must include the whistleblower/patient advocacy provision that protects nurses and other health care professionals from retaliation when they advocate for their patients. Patient advocacy is the cornerstone of my profession, and this provision is carefully crafted to allow me to exercise my ethical responsibility to my patients in institutional settings. "

http://www.ana.org/gova/federal/news/ptrights.htm

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