Relates to former patients interred at present and former state mental health hospital cemeteries
Impact
Should A10242 be enacted, it will improve the transparency and accessibility of records associated with former patients of state mental health facilities. This aligns with efforts to honor and memorialize individuals who lived and died within these institutions. Such legislation may positively impact families by providing closure and acknowledgment for their deceased relatives, particularly in regard to their military service, if applicable. This bill underscores the importance of maintaining historical records related to mental health care and its evolution over time.
Summary
Bill A10242, introduced by M. of A. Ramos, seeks to amend the mental hygiene law to ensure the availability of burial records for individuals interred in state mental health hospital cemeteries. The key provision of the bill mandates that the Department of Mental Health and related offices provide burial records, which should include details such as the deceased’s name, date of birth, date of death, and burial location, within thirty days following a patient's death. Additionally, it ensures that detailed information regarding military service and family relationships may also be made available.
Contention
While the bill generally appears to have a supportive framework aimed at transparency and historical accountability, there might be points of contention surrounding privacy concerns. Some stakeholders may worry about the implications of making such records public, particularly regarding families' privacy regarding sensitive information. There are also considerations about how the management of these records will be handled in practice, especially when a cemetery property or management is transferred to another entity, as outlined in the legislation.
Relates to orders not to resuscitate and the applicability of the family health care decisions act to residents of mental hygiene hospitals patients who lack decision-making capacity.
Requires general hospitals and nursing homes to offer free notarial services to patients; requires an employee of such general hospital or nursing home who is a notary public to be present from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on business days.
Requires hospitals to obtain verbal and written informed consent from a patient or representative before including such patient's information in a general hospital facility directory.
Requires hospitals to obtain verbal and written informed consent from a patient or representative before including such patient's information in a general hospital facility directory.
Authorizes the city of New York to sell certain lands now or formerly under the waters of Whale Creek otherwise known as Wyckoff Creek, and formerly a tributary of Newtown Creek.
Authorizes the city of New York to sell certain lands now or formerly under the waters of Whale Creek otherwise known as Wyckoff Creek, and formerly a tributary of Newtown Creek.
Relates to providing information to patients and the public on hospital rule-based exclusions; requires the commissioner of health to collect from each hospital a list of its hospital rule-based exclusions and publish such information on the department's website.