Deaf Woman Sues New Hampshire Hospital

New Hampshire Hospital has agreed to a settlement over allegations that it failed to provide appropriate aid and services under the ADA.

PETERBOROUGH, New Hampshire -- The U.S. Department of Justice announced today that Monadnock Community Hospital has agreed to a $5,000 settlement with a Deaf woman who received medical care at the hospital in 2010, according to a statement from justice department officials.

The woman, Amy Dauphinais, communicates primarily through sign language, and alleges hospital officials failed to provide her with auxiliary aids during her stay there, which resulted in her being unable to communicate with hospital personnel, and instead relied on her minor daughter to interpret for her, according to the statement.



Although the hospital agreed to pay Dauphinais $5,000, it did so without admitting liability in the incident, justice department officials said.



In a statement, hospital officials said there was "a strong difference of opinion on the facts of the patient visit that was the basis of the claim," and that "there was never any question of any adverse effect on the quality of care provided to any patient and MCH cooperated throughout the case... Read The Full Story.