San Diego

Bill Proposing Inspections of Dialysis Clinics Continues

An update on a bill that would require annual inspections of dialysis clinics.

The Senate Judiciary Committee passed SB 349, The Dialysis Patient Safety Act, after the Senate Health Committee passed the measure last month. The bill now heads to the Senate Appropriations Committee for consideration. As NBC7 previously reported the bill would require annual inspections of dialysis clinics, mandated down time between patients to allow for proper cleaning of the equipment and monitoring of staffing levels, with minimum requirements. Something seven other states already require.

Dialysis is not an option for 63,000 Californians, it’s a life-saving treatment for people with kidney failure. During a typical three to four hour treatment, a patient’s blood flows out of their body, then its cleaned, and then put back in. This is done three days a week for the rest of the patient’s life

San Diegan Roberta Mikles who was featured in NBC7 investigates initial story on the issue, briefly spoke in favor of the senate bill saying she didn’t want others to go what she went through with her father, Mickey.

He was on dialysis for five years before his death. Mikles showed the committee a picture of her father with his family and asked them to support SB349. Both supporters and detractors formed long lines to speak in favor of and in opposition to the bill.

The Committee voted 4-1 to move it forward.

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