Candidates for the Arkansas state attorney general voiced support for legislation to put video cameras in the rooms of nursing homes but disagreed on the effect amendments had on a previous version that failed in 2005.Both Democratic candidate Dustin McDaniel and Republican opponent Gunner DeLay spoke in support of so-called "granny cam" legislation during a National Nursing Home Residents' Rights Week rally held at the state Capitol by Arkansas Advocates for Nursing Home Residents.
A bill sponsored during last year's regular legislative session by Rep. Stephen Bright, R-Maumelle, would have allowed family members to set up video cameras in the rooms of their relatives living in nursing homes to monitor their care. The bill passed the House but failed in the Senate.
McDaniel said he supported the bill initially but cast a vote against it after amendments were added that weakened the legislation. One amendment changed how the tape was to be handled by family members.
Even if there was an act of abuse caught on tape, a family member was required to give that tape to the nursing home administrator. The new amendments made it a crime to take the tape to the local police department and say, "Look what happened to my mother".
McDaniel said as attorney general he would support a new version that would respect the privacy of other nursing home residents but would allow use of videotapes as evidence in criminal or civil legal matters. The previous bill would have prevented use of the tapes in civil litigation.
DeLay said he would like to see a form of the bill passed to protect elderly citizens and provide their families peace of mind. Some people couldn't support that bill because they said the videotape couldn't be admitted in civil litigation.
DeLay also said information about nursing homes, such as previous reports of abuse or neglect, should be available online through the attorney general's Web site. He said the information would empower consumers to choose an appropriate home for their relatives.
Unfortunately it protected the nursing home industry not its residents who are the potential victims for nursing home abuse. (NWA Online)
