Mandatory Reporting Laws Could Affect Liability in Nursing Home Abuse Cases

Pursuant to the Elder Abuse and Neglect Act (the Act), any person may in good faith report suspected elder neglect, abuse, or exploitation or cooperate with any investigation into elder abuse. Under the Act, any person who reports or cooperates with an investigation is immune to civil and criminal litigation. That person is also immune to professional disciplinary action. Finally, the Act prohibits disclosing the name of the reporting person, absent written approval by said person or by court order compelling disclosure. The goal of the Act is to encourage “whistleblowers” to report individuals or entities that abuse the elderly. However, the Act also imposes additional duties on certain professions.

Mandatory Reporting for Certain Professions

While the Act is designed to encourage “good Samaritans” to come forward, it does impose reporting duties on certain professions who, by virtue of their employment, are better placed to identify signs of elder abuse and neglect earlier than a layperson. The following industries are required to report:

• Adult care facilities;
• Law enforcement;
• Education;
• Social services and social workers;
• Medicine; and
• State services to seniors.

Professionals delivering services to the elderly in these industries are under a mandatory requirement to report abuse if they believe that the victim is incapable of reporting the abuse himself.

When Required to Report

The mandatory reporting requirement is three-pronged. First, the individual must work in one of the above-listed industries. Second, that person must provide services to the elderly, therefore, custodians and accountants are not mandatory reporters because they do not provide services to the elderly even if they are employed by an adult care facility. Finally, the reporter must believe that the victim is unable to report the abuse himself.

The purpose of the law is to protect victims of elder abuse. If a professional identifies abuse, falls within the Act which requires reporting, fails to report, and someone is injured, he or she could be subject to civil and criminal penalties.