Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Inova Health System has cut a deal with the Justice department to end a complaint about the company's failure to provide sign language interpreters during medical services. An expectant mother and other deaf people said the northern Virginia health care provider violated ADA law. The agreement, which still needs court approval, requires Inova to pay $95,000 to the deaf individuals along with a $25,000 civil penalty. Inova has agreed to provide at the several hospitals it operates in the suburbs of Washington, DC, training for its staff and a plan to meet the future needs of deaf clients. Under a separate agreement, Inova agreed to pay $25,000 to two other deaf people who complained about the same problem.