Legislative comment: nursing home patients' rights in Massachusetts: current protection and recommendations for...

Several Massachusetts laws, including the recently enacted Patients' Bill of Rights, protect the rights of nursing home patients. Although these laws address many of the problems that such patients face, they do not adequately meet all of the unique needs of this vulnerable group. This Comment discusses safeguards afforded by current Massachusetts law that are particularly important for nursing home patients, and recommends improvements that would secure more adequate protection for their rights. The Comment also analyzes some of Massachusetts law's shortcomings in implementation and enforcement, in forum selection and in limitations on standing, and suggests improvements in these areas. Finally, the Comment proposes the enactment of a comprehensive Bill of Rights for Nursing Home Patients in order to address their unique needs more adequately, and to eliminate the duplicative, vague, and confusing provisions contained in current law.