Washington Votes Forum

 I am a Social Worker in the Emergency Room at Harborview Medical Center and there is nothing worse when you can not locate family for an injured patient.  I agree with this bill and feel it will greatly help the community

I'm Robby Neichin's great aunt, through marriage.  My neice and her husband have spent the months that have passed since Robby's death fighting for the creation and passage of this bill because Robby would have wanted them to.  We'll never know if they had been contacted sooner, whether Robby would have survived or not, but this bill may save you, or someone you love.  All those involved, from the medical people to the police officers agree that there hands were tied, because they lacked the "authority" to find Robby's relatives. This bill addresses that issue specifically. Our family firmly believes that the passage of HB1278 is a simple and painless way to save lives.  Thank you for your support!

 Please pass this bill.  It would be horrible not to know your loved one(s) was seriously hurt.

Robby’s Notification Legislation HB 1278 has come about as a result of an auto accident involving my nineteen year old Step Son Robby Neichin. Rob passed away the day following the accident.

We were not notified by anyone at any time that our son had been involved in an accident. We found out by watching the news that there had been an accident and we were concerned that it may have been Robby. We started looking for him and as a result of our search we found him at Harborview Hospital as a john doe. The accident happened at about 3:00 pm. We found him at about 11:00 PM.

Months later when we regained some of our strength  we set out to find out what had gone wrong in regards to us not being notified of the accident in a timely manor. After interviews with the Washington State Patrol, The emergency staff at Harborview and both responding medical responders from Maltby and Cathcart. We came to understand that all of the entities involved are as frustrated as we are. They all care very deeply and are committed to serve the public. They do everything they can within the limits of the law and their individual professional mandates.

HB 1278 is an absolute no brainer.  It is a voluntary, common sense, low cost, non partisan approach to solving the systemic problem of slow or in many cases total lack of notification of next of kin when a loved one has been in an accident and cannot speak on their own behalf.

The passing of this legislation would afford our loved ones the possibly to not have to die alone and afraid. Have his or her medical records in the hands of emergency personnel possibly even before the patient arrives at the emergency room for treatment thus saving their life. Afford the possibility of saving other lives through organ donation. Only the next of kin can authorize this gift of life. The designation on your driver’s license does NOT qualify as authorization for organ donation.

For any that do not support this bill to the limits of their ability and participate in the program, it would  seem to me to be impossible to live with themselves when they find it thier turn to face a medical disaster within their own family and notification could have made the difference.   

Larry Clark 360-929-3922 any time      

 Please please help past this. I to lost a loved one, and wasn't notified for hours later. He died alone on the sidewalk.......  Thanks

 It is quite likely that there has not been a bill led foreward with such honest and heartfelt intentions in sometime!

You have my support.  Even if those that represent us do not.  (Shame on them)

 HB 1278 is important legislation.  Most of us do not know that notification does not happen, we assume that it does until a serious event happens and we discover that it does not.  This bill would help untie the authorities hands.  We need to have this bill in effect right away. 

Judy Haight

 I think it is sad that we actually need legislation just to be notified when our loved ones have been in an accident.  It will be good to get this on the books so no one else will have to go through this nightmare again.  To think that you'd hear about a loved one's situation by watching the news or getting a phone call from a friend of a friend... it just doesn't make sense.  This should have been made law LONG ago!!!  I applaud those involved for making it a reality.

 Please pass 2009 House Bill 1278 (regarding contact procedures in the case of emergencies).  So very important to all!!!  lincha