A friend being treated in a medical facility has been asked to sign a waiver releasing the facility from responsibility for personal possessions that they accepted for care when she checked in. (cell phone, wallet, keys, etc). They would not let her keep the possessions in her control. The facility did not inform us that they would not take responsibility at check in nor did they offer to allow me to retain control, nor did they identify items that could not be brought into the facility. She has been there 16 days. She has refused to sign the release. We would like to understand if the facility can legally force her to sign when the policy was not disclosed. Apparently, some possessions of another patient have been lost.
Patient possessions are stored at the nurses station with access only to employees.
Patient possessions are stored at the nurses station with access only to employees.