The Arizona Center for Disability Law filed a lawsuit Sept. 12 against Phoenix-based Arizona State Hospital, claiming hospital officials violated federal law by refusing to provide the center with access to the facility, patients and their records, according to ABC15 Arizona.
Here are three things to know:
1. Federal law designates ,Agencies like the ACDL as a "protection and advocacy ageny, to protect and advocate the legal rights of Arizonans with disabilities. Federal law also grants them access to patients' files and to claims of patient neglect and abuse, according to the report.
2. The ACDL claims hospital officials have refused to provide the organization with unaccompanied access to patients and their files for several years.
"If the Arizona State Hospital can choose which of their residents ACDL can speak to, listen in on our conversations, limit our access to the places and people they want us to see, then no one will ever know what's happening to the people we cannot see behind the doors," Chris Carlsen, an attorney at ACDL, said in a statement cited by ABC 15 Arizona .
3. Arizona State Hospital is run by Arizona Department of Health Services. A spokesperson said the department would not comment on the pending litigation, but released the following statement to ABC 15 Arizona.
"The Arizona Department of Health Services does not comment on pending litigation. That said, the top priority at the Arizona State Hospital is to provide the safest and most therapeutic environment possible for our patients. The Department acts vigorously to protect patients under our care and their privacy," the statement read.