New nursing home standards preserve patients' right to sue

WASHINGTON - The Obama administration is issuing new nursing home standards that reverse a longstanding industry practice and preserve the rights of patients to sue in cases of abuse or neglect.Currently, many nursing homes require patients seeking admission to first agree to resolve disputes through binding arbitration, relinquishing the court system.The industry argued that arbitration -done properly- can keep costs down for all patients by avoiding large jury awards. Consumer advocates and tr