"R.I. [Rhode Island] Deaf Association sues Lifespan accusing lack of interpreters for the deaf", 10 Sep 2017

The Rhode Island Association of the Deaf is suing Lifespan Corp. on behalf of parents it says hospitals left unable to communicate with doctors and staff about critical care involving their children, including blood transfusions, surgery and psychiatric treatment.

The association filed suit last week in U.S. District Court on behalf of Kathryn Arcana and Peggy Merhi, claiming Lifespan violated the Americans with Disabilities Act and deliberately discriminated against them based on their disabilities by failing to provide interpreters who could communicate in sign language or another effective means of communication…

Lifespan Physicians Group, the hospitals, and Lifespan’s leaders, Kenneth E. Arnold and Timothy Babineau, are also named as defendants.

“Rhode Island Hospital, and its pediatric division, Hasbro Children’s Hospital, are committed to providing family-centered care for all patients. We do not comment publicly on pending lawsuits,” Lifespan spokesman…said Friday…