A Washington dental clinic will pay a patient $45,000 and install new procedures to resolve a complaint over an alleged American Disabilities Act violation.
According to an Oct. 18 news release from the Justice Department, the Dental Specialty Clinic in Des Moines, Wash., failed to provide an interpreter during an appointment for a patient who is deaf in June 2020.
In addition to the $45,000 in compensation, the clinic agreed to make several changes, including contracting with an interpreter services provider to ensure that there are sign language interpretation services during its hours of operation and posting notices about its interpretation services in the clinic and on its website. The clinic will also provide reports and records related to the new procedures, along with copies of any complaints, to the U.S. Attorney's Office for three years to ensure it is complying with the agreement.