(1) Rules adopted by the Department of Human Services pursuant to ORS 441.055 shall include procedures for the filing of complaints as to the standard of care in any health care facility and provide for the confidentiality of the identity of any complainant.
(2) No health care facility, or person acting in the interest of the facility, shall take any disciplinary or other adverse action against any employee who in good faith brings evidence of inappropriate care or any other violation of law or rules to the attention of the proper authority solely because of the employee’s action as described in this subsection.
(3) Any employee who has knowledge of inappropriate care or any other violation of law or rules shall utilize established reporting procedures of the health care facility administration before notifying the department or other state agency of the alleged violation, unless the employee believes that patient health or safety is in immediate jeopardy or the employee makes the report to the department under the confidentiality provisions of subsection (1) of this section.
(4) The protection of health care facility employees under subsection (2) of this section shall commence with the reporting of the alleged violation by the employee to the administration of the health care facility or to the department or other state agency pursuant to subsection (3) of this section.
(5) Any person suffering loss or damage due to any violation of subsection (2) of this section has a right of action for damages in addition to other appropriate remedy.
(6) The provisions of this section do not apply to a nursing staff, as defined in ORS 441.172, who claims to be aggrieved by a violation of ORS 441.174 committed by a hospital. [1975 c.360 §2; 1981 c.336 §1; 1987 c.428 §10; 2001 c.609 §16; 2001 c.900 §168]
Section: Previous 441.030 441.035 441.037 441.040 441.045 441.050 441.055 441.057 441.058 441.059 441.060 441.061 441.062 441.063 441.064 NextLast modified: August 7, 2008