Mass General Brigham criticized over masking policy

Boston-based Mass General Brigham has drawn criticism from disability advocates and community members over how it's handling masking at its hospitals, radio station GBH 89.7 reported May 17.

Many immunocompromised people are worried about staying safe with masking requirements dropping and other public health emergency benefits like insurance-covered telehealth and free COVID-19 tests and vaccines dwindling, according to the station. And some worry about attending hospital appointments where universal masking has been dropped. Although some hospitals are keeping masking in some departments like oncology, others, like Mass General, are trying to do away with it entirely.

Mass General Brigham changed its masking policies twice in May. In early May, it posted to its website and sent to patients a question-and-answer section that included the following language:

"Q: I'd be more comfortable if my doctor, nurse or another care provider wear a mask. Can I ask them to? A: No. You cannot ask staff members to wear a mask because our policies no longer require it. Our system is adhering to current public health recommendations."

The wording upset many community members and disability activists, including lawyer Matthew Cortland, who filed a complaint with the civil rights divisions of the Justice Department and HHS.

"It's a blatant violation of federal disability, civil rights laws, and also the laws of the commonwealth of Massachusetts," Mr. Cortland told GBH.

One immunocompromised patient called the hospital for clarification on what would happen if she chose to ask staff to mask. 

"They said it could result in the security being called, which seems like a little bit of an overreaction," she said. "I didn't mean to be hostile in any way. I just want to know how best to protect myself when I do go to the hospital."

However, a hospital spokesperson told GBH that the patient was misinformed. 

"To clarify, patients would not be escorted out by security if they were to simply ask staff to mask," he said in an emailed message.

Mass General Brigham removed the language from the website and said in a statement that they "are committed to ensuring that patients can access medical care in a safe and appropriate manner," and "patients can ask, but providers determine when and if masking in a particular situation is clinically necessary."

But some advocates aren't satisfied. 

"The MGB policy that is, quote, 'your provider will decide if you need others to mask in your presence' is problematic and discriminatory and racist given the history of what we have seen in the medical system," Lara Jirmanus, MD, co-founder of Massachusetts Coalition for Health Equity, told GBH. "I personally have actually [called] on the phone and was told by an MGB staff person that I didn't have to worry about COVID anymore because it wasn't a big deal."

The advocacy organization is trying to get accommodations to require providers to wear masks around immunocompromised people but has had no success yet.

Mass General Brigham confirmed they have received complaints over the new policy and are working with those individuals. They direct patients with direct concerns about masking to the providers in charge of their care.

 

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