CHARLESTON – The West Virginia Human Rights Commission has found that CAMC-Teays Valley Hospital’s patient bathrooms are not compliant with the American with Disabilities Act.
Charleston attorney Duane J. Ruggier II filed a complaint with the WVHRC in January, stating that, while patient rooms all have their own bathroom, none of the bathrooms are ADA compliant.
“This means that an individual with a disability has to have the assistance of a nurse or other individual to use the restroom while a non-handicapped person can use the bathroom privately,” Ruggier said in an e-mail.
After Ruggier filed the complaint, CAMC-Teays Valley filed an answer, denying, at least in part, the allegations of discrimination.
Officers of the WVHRC then conducted an investigation of the allegations in the complaint and the answer.
Marykaye Jacquet, the executive director of the WVHRC, filed a determination regarding the matter.
“The information obtained in this investigation supports the claim of discrimination,” the determination states. “Accordingly, the West Virginia Human Rights Commission hereby makes a determination, based upon its investigation, that there is probable cause to believe there has been a violation of the West Virginia Human Rights Act.”
Pursuant to West Virginia code, the matter will now be assigned to an administrative law judge, who will schedule a public hearing on the matter.