News Archive

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, nursing home facilities have often been hit particularly hard by the disease. The state of Indiana is only releasing the overall number of people who have tested positive and who have died in nursing homes, while neighboring states such as Illinois are showing this information at the facility level. Some but not all facilities in Indiana have disclosed testing, infection and death statistics to families of their residents or to the public, however this information may soon be made public by the federal government.  Seema Mohapatra, IU McKinney Associate Professor of Law and Dean’s Fellow, commented on the nursing home situation for a news story on WRTV6 on May 15, 2020 (“Indiana nursing home death information to be made public despite state's efforts”).

"The workers are coming in and out of those facilities, so there is also a potential risk for general public about what the infection rates are in long term care facilities,” said Mohapatra. “I think it's all in the public interest and public trust right now. They need to show us their trustworthiness by reporting these kinds of cases. "
Professor Mohapatra is an expert in the areas of health care law, public health law, bioethics, torts, and international health and family law. Her research interests include the intersection of biosciences and the law, assisted reproduction and surrogacy, international family and health law, health care disparities in the United States, and informed consent.