Lawmakers in Tennessee are attempting to limit the rights of those injured due to nursing home abuse & neglect. Under a bill proposed by State Senators Jim Tracy (R-Shelbyville) and Randy Rinks (D- Savannah), nursing home residents injured or killed due to a facilities poor treatment would be limited to a recovery of $300,000 in non-economic damages. The bill would also place a cap on punitive damages against nursing homes of $600,000.
This protectionist legislation would provide little incentive for poorly equipped nursing homes to ‘clean up their act.’ Taking the decision making process away from a jury of one’s peers sets a dangerous precedent in an industry riddled with problems related to patient safety.
Read more about this potentially dangerous development impacting Tennessee Nursing Homes here.