Danbury Hospital Settles Disability Compliance Complaint

DANBURY, CT — The Morganti Wound Care Center, operated by Danbury Hospital, has reached a settlement with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Connecticut, resolving a complaint the facility was not compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. .

A wheelchair-bound patient alleged he was denied access to the services provided by MWCC when the workers there turned him away because they did not have the equipment or training necessary to transfer him from his chair to the examination table.

Under federal law, private entities that own or operate places of "public accommodation," including professional offices of healthcare providers, hospitals, and other service establishments are prohibited from discriminating on the basis of disability.

Under the terms of the settlement agreement, Danbury Hospital will compensate the complainant in the amount of $10,000. MWCC also agreed to train all staff who interact with patients in techniques for safely assisting disabled patients onto and off of examination tables.

Danbury Hospital will also be taking steps to ensure that each of its outpatient facilities has and will maintain access to a Hoyer lift, and has implemented other practices to transfer a patient onto examination tables, or other equipment, safely.