UNDER THE LAW ADA HOSPITALS MUST BE ACCESSIBLE FOR PERSONS DISABLED BY MULTIPLE CHEMICAL SENSITIVITY
Christiane Tourtet B.A.
July 01, 2008
Over 47 million people in the US, of all ages, suffer from the devastating chemically, environmentally triggered illness /disability of Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS). I am urging everyone to visit the award-winning website MCS Homepage/International MCS/EMS Awareness in order to get accurate and up dated information on this worldwide health crisis.
http://www.nettally.com/prusty/mcs.htm
You can download free brochures on MCS and on MCS and public accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), read scientific articles, view MCS Awareness Month Proclamations which after receiving the approval of respective States Departments of Health have been signed by numerous Governors and Mayors for the public awareness of this ever growing devastating environmental illness.
One would think that by now, since the passage of the Law, "The Americans with Disabilities Act, of 1990," (Please visit U.S. Department of Justice, ADA Homepage) at:
http://www.ada.gov
hospitals, clinics, medical facilities, and other places of public accommodations, would have made their premises accessible for persons disabled by Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) and would provide under ADA the accommodations suitable for this disability. Unfortunately, in too many places, it is still not so!
It is especially tragic, for persons disabled by Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS), who either as patients or visitors of hospitals, clinics, and other medical facilities, are unable to seek the help they need, without becoming terribly ill, and even risking their lives, since so many hospitals, clinics, and other medical facilities, are still not accessible for this type of illness/ disability, and have failed to have a policy to provide safe access, and accommodations,( either as patients or visitors) for persons disabled by Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS).
The tremendous amount of non-clean air, polluted by biocides, pesticides, sanitizers, medications, disinfectants, cleaning products, and hosts of other toxic chemicals, in hermetically closed facilities, without adequate fresh air input, makes it impossible for persons disabled by MCS, to have safe access to these facilities. The agonizing reactions, that could prove fatal, for many persons disabled by MCS, in these facilities, simply cannot be described.
Due to the failure, of these facilities to have adequate policies in regard to persons disabled by MCS, medical personnel in ambulance, emergency rooms, and in situations of in/out patients, make many persons disabled with MCS go through agonizing sufferings, which could very easily prove fatal, to many MCS persons.
It is an urgent necessity for hospitals, clinics, and other medical facilities, to provide safe access and appropriate accommodations under the law ADA, for persons disabled by the devastating chemically, environmentally triggered illness/disability of Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS). Some of the numerous ways to accomplish this, is to use non-toxic products that should be as natural as possible, clean and sanitize with steam, have adequate ventilation, and an increase of fresh air exchanges, windows that can open, so that the concentration of toxic chemicals in the air can be reduced.
Many cleaning chemicals are quite often purchased in solutions that are concentrated that require to be mixed or diluted by the employees that are in charge of applications. Unfortunately, too many times, due to problems with languages skills, training, or supervisors of workers, the mixtures of these products is incorrect and that can lead to numerous adverse health effects. Toxic chemicals contribute greatly to poor indoor air quality. Many disinfectants used in hospitals, such as bleach, phenols, quaternary ammonium compounds are toxic and even registered as pesticides with the Environmental Protection agency (EPA).These toxic chemicals, are routinely used on every surface in nearly every hospital, and health effects from long term exposure to quaternary ammonium compounds can be many , including hypersensitivity syndrome and occupational asthma.
The Archives of Environmental Health has noted that some persons exposed to products with fragrances, might experience respiratory difficulty, nose, eye, and throat irritation, asthma like-reactions, and central nervous system reactions, such as confusion, fatigue, lack of coordination, dizziness. So if cleaning chemical products really have to be used, they should be unscented, and environmentally preferable, in order to improve air quality.
I would like to bring to your attention that in regard to emergency situations, there is an excellent, second edition, of Tips for First Responders, a 13-page , laminated, color-coded 4.5 x 5.5 inch field guide, which I personally highly recommend, to which two new disabilities have been added- Autism and Multiple Chemical Sensitivities. These tips sheets, offer extremely valuable information to First Responders, on how to assist persons, with a wide range of disabilities which include: Seniors, People with Service Animals, People with Mobility challenges, People with mental Illness, Blind or Visually impaired People, Deaf or Hard of Hearing People, People with Autism, People with Multiple Chemical Sensitivities, and People with Cognitive Disabilities.
The primary sponsor of Tips for First Responders, is the Center for Development and Disability of the University of New Mexico, with the following co-sponsors: New Mexico Governor´s Commission on Disability, Office of Health Emergency Management of New Mexico Department of Health, the American Association on Health & Disability,(AAHD), Research and Training Center on Independent living of the University of Kansas.
They contain quick and quite easy-to-use procedures to provide assistance to persons with disabilities that can be used during emergencies, such as tornado, flood, fire, and many more, as well as during routine encounters.
All First Responders, Hospitals, Clinics, Medical Facilities, and others, should have these. They can be ordered at the following website:
http://cdd.unm.edu/products/tipsforfirstresponders.htm
On this site you also will find an order form that can be downloaded, completed and mailed or faxed to:
UNM Center for Development & Disability
Attention: Dr.Anthony Cahill
2300 Menaul Boulevard N.E.
Albuquerque, NM 87107
Fax: ( 505) 272-9594
You may also contact Dr. Anthony Cahill at: acahill@salud.unm.edu
For accommodating persons disabled with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS), under the Law the Americans with Disabilities Act, the U.S. Access Board, an independent
Federal Agency devoted to accessibility of persons with disabilities, has adopted a fragrance-free environment and also has on – line, an extensive recommendations report on Indoor Environmental Quality ( IEQ), which, when applied, not only makes it possible for persons disabled by Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) to have access in places of public accommodations, but, also, can benefit the health of everyone.
http://www.access-board.gov/about/policies/fragrance.htm
http://www.access-board.gov/news/ieq.htm
http://web.archive.org/web/20061215221954/ieq.nibs.org
http://web.archive.org/web/20061228193215/ieq.nibs.org
http://web.archive.org/web/20061228193112/ieq.nibs.org/om/gr_policies.php
Of particular interest on the site of Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ), are the reports on Barriers & Issues in regard to Multiple Chemical Sensitivities (MCS) and fragrances, cleaning products and disinfectants and many others.
http:web.archive.org/web/20061228192724/ieq.nibs.org/om/bi_fragrances.php
http://web.archive.org/web/20061228192955/ieq.nibs.org/om/bi_disinfectants.php
Due to the extreme shortage of Medical Doctors in the US and worldwide, who are knowledgeable of this painful, devastating, chemically/environmentally triggered disease, a large number of persons with MCS, do not have a doctor , and in such instance, hospitals, clinics, medical facilities, must rely on what the person with MCS knows about his/ her own condition, or for instance have a family member, spouse, partner, friend, health care surrogate, …etc, let medical personnel know, what foods, water, soaps, cleaning products, clothes, bed sheets, oxygen tanks, masks,…etc, are somehow "tolerable" (that is with mild reactions) for the person with MCS, and what give severe to extremely severe reactions to the point of being life-threatening.
Selected, Emergency Personnel and Hospital Staff, should be free of perfumes, fragrances, disinfectants,…etc, and allow the MCS person, as applicable, to use his or her, own tolerable mask, and, or oxygen equipment, (usually a ceramic mask, with stainless steel tubing) and should immediately put a wrist band, on the patient, such as Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Patient, (MCS) or Chemically Sensitive, or Acutely Chemically Sensitive Patient. Hospitals, clinics, should have oxygen equipment suitable for MCS patients.
In an emergency, an MCS person should be taken straight into an isolation room, or other area, where that person will not be exposed to biocides, pesticides, fragrances, sanitizers, medications, cleaning products, residues of chemicals on clothing of other people in the waiting room …etc. It should be a place with pure air, free of fragrances, pesticides, disinfectants, carpets, cleaning products, renovations, fresh paint, toxic chemicals, basically a "fragrance free room/area". Staff should immediately be alerted that they have an MCS patient.
There are several stages of MCS: beginning, intermediate, advanced, and extremely advanced (Acute). The stage that an MCS person is at, will determine, what that person will be able to" tolerate", or not. Each individual may be different.
What may be tolerable, at a given stage by an MCS person, may be totally intolerable for another one. And the more advanced the stage of MCS, the more severe and numerous the reactions may be, to not only chemicals, but even to what is considered non-toxic and natural. Some MCS people may possibly be able to go through surgery, with appropriate tolerable anesthesia, medications, and special precautions, while some others, at extremely advanced stage, for instance could die if given even a minute dose of any medication.
Many MCS people at extremely advanced stage, usually are unable to have any medications of any kind, and are so hypersensitive to just about everything , that just to have skin contact with another person who is taking medications, can give severe reactions.
Needless to say, that if medication of any kind were given to such a person, even in a minute dose, it could result into most agonizing reactions for that person, that could be cardiac/respiratory, neurological, could affect virtually every organ and easily result into death.
At this stage, usually an MCS person is severely limited about eating, due to severe foods intolerances, and to just about everything else. That person might be able to "tolerate" very few foods, may not be able to tolerate tap water, vitamins, herbs, homeopathic treatment of any kind, ointments, rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, even baking soda, (even though many MCS persons can tolerate baking soda fairly well), as well as a host of other chemicals and can have quite severe reactions to just the mere inhalation of perfumes, fragrances, sanitizers, disinfectants, medications, chemicals in general.
Again each person may have his/her own individual reactions at a given stage. Many persons with MCS have a list of all the foods, products they can "tolerate", water they can drink, and especially a list of things, they have severe or even life-threatening reactions to.
If an MCS person, unfortunately, does not have a doctor, due to, as mentioned earlier, the extreme shortage of doctors knowledgeable of MCS, then the list from that MCS person must be fully accepted by hospitals, emergency personnel, doctors, and staff.
Each hospital, clinic, medical facility, must have an effective policy, in order to accommodate persons disabled by Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS).
There are many hospitals in the US and abroad, that have such policies that could be used as models for other hospitals, clinics, and medical facilities, for accommodating persons disabled by Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) under ADA, keeping in mind, however, that each MCS person has his/her own individual reactions, and the recommended thing to do, is to find out what is best suited for that patient.An Hospital MCS policy, which I found to be one of the best, it the one from Southest General Health Center (SWGHC), Middleburg Heights, OH. (Effective July 2002):
http://web.archive.org/web/20061011111224/ieq.nibs.org/rooms/ieq/rooms/app_b.php
In regard to visitors with MCS, and for some of them who may have to stay overnight near a loved one, hospitals , must make their promises accessible for persons with MCS, regardless of the fact that they are patients or visitors. So based on the policy of the hospital for patients with MCS, the appropriate same principles should be applied for visitors, and in order for an MCS person at an acute stage, for instance, to be able to visit or stay overnight near a loved one, the non- MCS patient, should be put in a clean air room, as if he/she was an MCS patient in order to provide access for visitors and especially for visitors staying overnight.
Staff, must be fully trained in regard to MCS, and must carefully listen and try to comply with the requests for accommodations of MCS visitors/overnight guests. Depending on the MCS stage of disability , accommodations may vary, and will have to be tailored to their needs. If blankets, pillows, are needed, they must be free of disinfectants, fragrances, and as much sterile as possible. Tolerable, food and water must be made available for MCS visitors/overnight guests, upon their request, and staff must be courteous, understanding and fully cooperative.
It would be a good idea, for hospitals, to consult with the head of an MCS association, for guidance, as usually persons who have this illness/disability are very knowledgeable of their disability, as well as the type of accommodations that should be done, and could provide very valuable insights.
I found a very interesting site, "Health Care Without Harm" and I am urging, hospitals, clinics, medical facilities, to diligently visit that site at:
http://www.noharm.org
Of particular interest on that site, is "Cleaning Chemical Use in Hospitals, Fact Sheet" at
http://www.noharm.org/lib/downloads/cleaners/Cleaning_Chem_in_Hosp.pdf
and "Healthy Hospitals - Controlling Pests without Harmful Pesticides " written by Kagan Owens, Beyond Pesticides.
http://www.noharm.org/lib/downloads/cleaners/Control_Pests_wo_Pesticides.pdf
I would like to add, that, besides the potentially serious legal consequences of not providing accomodations under the Law "the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990",civil penalties may run as high as $ 55.000 for a first violation, or $110.000 for a subsequent violation. It is thus, imperative for hospitals, clinics, and medical facilities, to provide accessibility/accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), for persons disabled by Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS).
References:
MCS Homepage
U.S. Department of Justice, Americans with Disabilities Act, ADA Homepage
University of New Mexico, UNM Center for Development and Disability, Albuquerque, NM .
United States Access Board
IEQ Indoor Environmental Quality, National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS)
Southwest General Health Center (SWGHC) Middleburg Heights, OH
Health Care Without Harm
© 2008 Christiane Tourtet. All rights reserved.
http://www.nettally.com/prusty/mcs.htm
You can download free brochures on MCS and on MCS and public accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), read scientific articles, view MCS Awareness Month Proclamations which after receiving the approval of respective States Departments of Health have been signed by numerous Governors and Mayors for the public awareness of this ever growing devastating environmental illness.
One would think that by now, since the passage of the Law, "The Americans with Disabilities Act, of 1990," (Please visit U.S. Department of Justice, ADA Homepage) at:
http://www.ada.gov
hospitals, clinics, medical facilities, and other places of public accommodations, would have made their premises accessible for persons disabled by Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) and would provide under ADA the accommodations suitable for this disability. Unfortunately, in too many places, it is still not so!
It is especially tragic, for persons disabled by Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS), who either as patients or visitors of hospitals, clinics, and other medical facilities, are unable to seek the help they need, without becoming terribly ill, and even risking their lives, since so many hospitals, clinics, and other medical facilities, are still not accessible for this type of illness/ disability, and have failed to have a policy to provide safe access, and accommodations,( either as patients or visitors) for persons disabled by Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS).
The tremendous amount of non-clean air, polluted by biocides, pesticides, sanitizers, medications, disinfectants, cleaning products, and hosts of other toxic chemicals, in hermetically closed facilities, without adequate fresh air input, makes it impossible for persons disabled by MCS, to have safe access to these facilities. The agonizing reactions, that could prove fatal, for many persons disabled by MCS, in these facilities, simply cannot be described.
Due to the failure, of these facilities to have adequate policies in regard to persons disabled by MCS, medical personnel in ambulance, emergency rooms, and in situations of in/out patients, make many persons disabled with MCS go through agonizing sufferings, which could very easily prove fatal, to many MCS persons.
It is an urgent necessity for hospitals, clinics, and other medical facilities, to provide safe access and appropriate accommodations under the law ADA, for persons disabled by the devastating chemically, environmentally triggered illness/disability of Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS). Some of the numerous ways to accomplish this, is to use non-toxic products that should be as natural as possible, clean and sanitize with steam, have adequate ventilation, and an increase of fresh air exchanges, windows that can open, so that the concentration of toxic chemicals in the air can be reduced.
Many cleaning chemicals are quite often purchased in solutions that are concentrated that require to be mixed or diluted by the employees that are in charge of applications. Unfortunately, too many times, due to problems with languages skills, training, or supervisors of workers, the mixtures of these products is incorrect and that can lead to numerous adverse health effects. Toxic chemicals contribute greatly to poor indoor air quality. Many disinfectants used in hospitals, such as bleach, phenols, quaternary ammonium compounds are toxic and even registered as pesticides with the Environmental Protection agency (EPA).These toxic chemicals, are routinely used on every surface in nearly every hospital, and health effects from long term exposure to quaternary ammonium compounds can be many , including hypersensitivity syndrome and occupational asthma.
The Archives of Environmental Health has noted that some persons exposed to products with fragrances, might experience respiratory difficulty, nose, eye, and throat irritation, asthma like-reactions, and central nervous system reactions, such as confusion, fatigue, lack of coordination, dizziness. So if cleaning chemical products really have to be used, they should be unscented, and environmentally preferable, in order to improve air quality.
I would like to bring to your attention that in regard to emergency situations, there is an excellent, second edition, of Tips for First Responders, a 13-page , laminated, color-coded 4.5 x 5.5 inch field guide, which I personally highly recommend, to which two new disabilities have been added- Autism and Multiple Chemical Sensitivities. These tips sheets, offer extremely valuable information to First Responders, on how to assist persons, with a wide range of disabilities which include: Seniors, People with Service Animals, People with Mobility challenges, People with mental Illness, Blind or Visually impaired People, Deaf or Hard of Hearing People, People with Autism, People with Multiple Chemical Sensitivities, and People with Cognitive Disabilities.
The primary sponsor of Tips for First Responders, is the Center for Development and Disability of the University of New Mexico, with the following co-sponsors: New Mexico Governor´s Commission on Disability, Office of Health Emergency Management of New Mexico Department of Health, the American Association on Health & Disability,(AAHD), Research and Training Center on Independent living of the University of Kansas.
They contain quick and quite easy-to-use procedures to provide assistance to persons with disabilities that can be used during emergencies, such as tornado, flood, fire, and many more, as well as during routine encounters.
All First Responders, Hospitals, Clinics, Medical Facilities, and others, should have these. They can be ordered at the following website:
http://cdd.unm.edu/products/tipsforfirstresponders.htm
On this site you also will find an order form that can be downloaded, completed and mailed or faxed to:
UNM Center for Development & Disability
Attention: Dr.Anthony Cahill
2300 Menaul Boulevard N.E.
Albuquerque, NM 87107
Fax: ( 505) 272-9594
You may also contact Dr. Anthony Cahill at: acahill@salud.unm.edu
For accommodating persons disabled with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS), under the Law the Americans with Disabilities Act, the U.S. Access Board, an independent
Federal Agency devoted to accessibility of persons with disabilities, has adopted a fragrance-free environment and also has on – line, an extensive recommendations report on Indoor Environmental Quality ( IEQ), which, when applied, not only makes it possible for persons disabled by Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) to have access in places of public accommodations, but, also, can benefit the health of everyone.
http://www.access-board.gov/about/policies/fragrance.htm
http://www.access-board.gov/news/ieq.htm
http://web.archive.org/web/20061215221954/ieq.nibs.org
http://web.archive.org/web/20061228193215/ieq.nibs.org
http://web.archive.org/web/20061228193112/ieq.nibs.org/om/gr_policies.php
Of particular interest on the site of Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ), are the reports on Barriers & Issues in regard to Multiple Chemical Sensitivities (MCS) and fragrances, cleaning products and disinfectants and many others.
http:web.archive.org/web/20061228192724/ieq.nibs.org/om/bi_fragrances.php
http://web.archive.org/web/20061228192955/ieq.nibs.org/om/bi_disinfectants.php
Due to the extreme shortage of Medical Doctors in the US and worldwide, who are knowledgeable of this painful, devastating, chemically/environmentally triggered disease, a large number of persons with MCS, do not have a doctor , and in such instance, hospitals, clinics, medical facilities, must rely on what the person with MCS knows about his/ her own condition, or for instance have a family member, spouse, partner, friend, health care surrogate, …etc, let medical personnel know, what foods, water, soaps, cleaning products, clothes, bed sheets, oxygen tanks, masks,…etc, are somehow "tolerable" (that is with mild reactions) for the person with MCS, and what give severe to extremely severe reactions to the point of being life-threatening.
Selected, Emergency Personnel and Hospital Staff, should be free of perfumes, fragrances, disinfectants,…etc, and allow the MCS person, as applicable, to use his or her, own tolerable mask, and, or oxygen equipment, (usually a ceramic mask, with stainless steel tubing) and should immediately put a wrist band, on the patient, such as Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Patient, (MCS) or Chemically Sensitive, or Acutely Chemically Sensitive Patient. Hospitals, clinics, should have oxygen equipment suitable for MCS patients.
In an emergency, an MCS person should be taken straight into an isolation room, or other area, where that person will not be exposed to biocides, pesticides, fragrances, sanitizers, medications, cleaning products, residues of chemicals on clothing of other people in the waiting room …etc. It should be a place with pure air, free of fragrances, pesticides, disinfectants, carpets, cleaning products, renovations, fresh paint, toxic chemicals, basically a "fragrance free room/area". Staff should immediately be alerted that they have an MCS patient.
There are several stages of MCS: beginning, intermediate, advanced, and extremely advanced (Acute). The stage that an MCS person is at, will determine, what that person will be able to" tolerate", or not. Each individual may be different.
What may be tolerable, at a given stage by an MCS person, may be totally intolerable for another one. And the more advanced the stage of MCS, the more severe and numerous the reactions may be, to not only chemicals, but even to what is considered non-toxic and natural. Some MCS people may possibly be able to go through surgery, with appropriate tolerable anesthesia, medications, and special precautions, while some others, at extremely advanced stage, for instance could die if given even a minute dose of any medication.
Many MCS people at extremely advanced stage, usually are unable to have any medications of any kind, and are so hypersensitive to just about everything , that just to have skin contact with another person who is taking medications, can give severe reactions.
Needless to say, that if medication of any kind were given to such a person, even in a minute dose, it could result into most agonizing reactions for that person, that could be cardiac/respiratory, neurological, could affect virtually every organ and easily result into death.
At this stage, usually an MCS person is severely limited about eating, due to severe foods intolerances, and to just about everything else. That person might be able to "tolerate" very few foods, may not be able to tolerate tap water, vitamins, herbs, homeopathic treatment of any kind, ointments, rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, even baking soda, (even though many MCS persons can tolerate baking soda fairly well), as well as a host of other chemicals and can have quite severe reactions to just the mere inhalation of perfumes, fragrances, sanitizers, disinfectants, medications, chemicals in general.
Again each person may have his/her own individual reactions at a given stage. Many persons with MCS have a list of all the foods, products they can "tolerate", water they can drink, and especially a list of things, they have severe or even life-threatening reactions to.
If an MCS person, unfortunately, does not have a doctor, due to, as mentioned earlier, the extreme shortage of doctors knowledgeable of MCS, then the list from that MCS person must be fully accepted by hospitals, emergency personnel, doctors, and staff.
Each hospital, clinic, medical facility, must have an effective policy, in order to accommodate persons disabled by Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS).
There are many hospitals in the US and abroad, that have such policies that could be used as models for other hospitals, clinics, and medical facilities, for accommodating persons disabled by Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) under ADA, keeping in mind, however, that each MCS person has his/her own individual reactions, and the recommended thing to do, is to find out what is best suited for that patient.An Hospital MCS policy, which I found to be one of the best, it the one from Southest General Health Center (SWGHC), Middleburg Heights, OH. (Effective July 2002):
http://web.archive.org/web/20061011111224/ieq.nibs.org/rooms/ieq/rooms/app_b.php
In regard to visitors with MCS, and for some of them who may have to stay overnight near a loved one, hospitals , must make their promises accessible for persons with MCS, regardless of the fact that they are patients or visitors. So based on the policy of the hospital for patients with MCS, the appropriate same principles should be applied for visitors, and in order for an MCS person at an acute stage, for instance, to be able to visit or stay overnight near a loved one, the non- MCS patient, should be put in a clean air room, as if he/she was an MCS patient in order to provide access for visitors and especially for visitors staying overnight.
Staff, must be fully trained in regard to MCS, and must carefully listen and try to comply with the requests for accommodations of MCS visitors/overnight guests. Depending on the MCS stage of disability , accommodations may vary, and will have to be tailored to their needs. If blankets, pillows, are needed, they must be free of disinfectants, fragrances, and as much sterile as possible. Tolerable, food and water must be made available for MCS visitors/overnight guests, upon their request, and staff must be courteous, understanding and fully cooperative.
It would be a good idea, for hospitals, to consult with the head of an MCS association, for guidance, as usually persons who have this illness/disability are very knowledgeable of their disability, as well as the type of accommodations that should be done, and could provide very valuable insights.
I found a very interesting site, "Health Care Without Harm" and I am urging, hospitals, clinics, medical facilities, to diligently visit that site at:
http://www.noharm.org
Of particular interest on that site, is "Cleaning Chemical Use in Hospitals, Fact Sheet" at
http://www.noharm.org/lib/downloads/cleaners/Cleaning_Chem_in_Hosp.pdf
and "Healthy Hospitals - Controlling Pests without Harmful Pesticides " written by Kagan Owens, Beyond Pesticides.
http://www.noharm.org/lib/downloads/cleaners/Control_Pests_wo_Pesticides.pdf
I would like to add, that, besides the potentially serious legal consequences of not providing accomodations under the Law "the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990",civil penalties may run as high as $ 55.000 for a first violation, or $110.000 for a subsequent violation. It is thus, imperative for hospitals, clinics, and medical facilities, to provide accessibility/accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), for persons disabled by Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS).
References:
MCS Homepage
U.S. Department of Justice, Americans with Disabilities Act, ADA Homepage
University of New Mexico, UNM Center for Development and Disability, Albuquerque, NM .
United States Access Board
IEQ Indoor Environmental Quality, National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS)
Southwest General Health Center (SWGHC) Middleburg Heights, OH
Health Care Without Harm
© 2008 Christiane Tourtet. All rights reserved.