§ 23-17.5-18. Development of responsibilities.
All rights and responsibilities specified in §§ 23-17.5-3, 23-17.5-7, 23-17.5-15, and 23-17.5-17 shall devolve, in order of priority, to a patient’s guardian, next of kin, sponsoring agency(ies) or representative payor (except when the facility itself is the representative payor) for patients who are:
(1) Adjudicated incompetent in accordance with state law; or
(2) Found by the physician to be medically incapable of understanding their rights; or
(3) Found to exhibit a communication barrier. If, however, the communication barrier is one of speaking a language other than English, then an attempt shall be made to find an interpreter to allow the patient to knowingly exercise his or her rights.
History of Section.P.L. 1978, ch. 235, § 1.
Structure Rhode Island General Laws
Chapter 23-17.5 - Rights of Nursing Home Patients
Section 23-17.5-1. - Condition of admission.
Section 23-17.5-2. - Care of patient.
Section 23-17.5-3. - Physician.
Section 23-17.5-4. - Rules of nursing homes.
Section 23-17.5-5. - Services and charges.
Section 23-17.5-6. - Care by physician — Disclosure of patient’s medical condition.
Section 23-17.5-7. - Experimentation.
Section 23-17.5-8. - Grievances.
Section 23-17.5-10. - Performance of services by patients.
Section 23-17.5-11. - Participation in activities.
Section 23-17.5-12. - Visitors.
Section 23-17.5-13. - Personal services.
Section 23-17.5-14. - Right to privacy.
Section 23-17.5-15. - Financial affairs.
Section 23-17.5-16. - Married patient.
Section 23-17.5-17. - Transfer to another facility.
Section 23-17.5-18. - Development of responsibilities.
Section 23-17.5-19. - Discrimination.
Section 23-17.5-20. - Posting of law.
Section 23-17.5-21. - Penalties.
Section 23-17.5-22. - Enforcement.
Section 23-17.5-23. - Severability.
Section 23-17.5-25. - Notice on bed-hold policy and readmission.
Section 23-17.5-26. - Smoke-free environment.
Section 23-17.5-27. - Heat relief.
Section 23-17.5-28. - Pain assessment.
Section 23-17.5-29. - Hospice.
Section 23-17.5-30. - Family councils.
Section 23-17.5-31. - Reimbursement of monies prepaid to deceased patient’s estate.
Section 23-17.5-32. - Minimum staffing levels.
Section 23-17.5-33. - Minimum staffing level compliance and enforcement program.
Section 23-17.5-34. - Nursing staff posting requirements.
Section 23-17.5-35. - Staffing plan.