A few years back, there was a trend among legislators to change laws regarding public records in a way they claimed was meant to better protect victims, especially children and particularly vulnerable older victims. The interpretation of those laws, however, has turned out to protect not the victims, but those who may have committed crimes (or at the very least been negligent) against those victims.

Disability Rights Ohio is the federally designated Protection and Advocacy System in the state, and has been granted the authority to investigate cases in which there is suspected maltreatment of residents with disabilities at treatment facilities.

But, according to a report by WCMH, it is embroiled in a lawsuit against the Ohio Department of Behavioral Health, which it accuses of withholding records regarding alleged abuse and neglect in its facilities.

Rather than give Disability Rights Ohio the information it needs to properly investigate these cases, the Department of Behavior Health responded this way, according to the WCMH report:

“While we value and respect the role of the protection and advocacy system, we must exercise our statutory authority carefully to ensure compliance with applicable privacy laws,” the department said in a statement.

Sticking to the letter of the law in the name of self-preservation is not a good look, when children and other vulnerable patients are involved. Surely the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio will understand that, and order Disability Right Ohio be given access to the records they are seeking, immediately.