In September 2009, the combined “Five Fundamental Rights – Fresh Air” bill went before the legislative committee on Mental Health and Substance Abuse.

That bill was basically identical to the present one. It called for a fair way to appeal violations of the “Five Fundamental Rights” law. This law spells out five very basic civil rights for people in inpatient or residential mental health facilities: the right to speak on the phone, in private; the right to send and receive sealed and uncensored mail; to receive or refuse visitors, in private; the right to a humane environment; and the right to speak with a lawyer or other outside support.

The "Five Fundamental Rights" law was passed in 1998. However, 13 years later, it’s rarely enforced, because there isn’t a fair way to appeal violations of it! Also, the bill calls for the creation of a sixth Fundamental Right – daily access to fresh air and the outdoors.

This year, the bill has 26 legislative sponsors, and has had 13 others in the past.

At the 2009 bill hearing, two influential hospital lobbyist groups testified against the fresh air part of the bill, as expected. However, they BOTH ignored the other part of the bill - language that would provide a means to appeal violations of the “Five Fundamental Rights.”

These lobbying groups – the Massachusetts Hospital Association and the Massachusetts Association of Behavioral Health Systems, represent an extremely powerful industry. Since this is a critical civil rights issue, we demand they pay attention to it, and explain to the public why these scandalous and illegal violations continue. The constant and flagrant discrimination, occuring every day, must be challenged.

So PLEASE sign this petition, which will be delivered to the leaders of the two hospital lobbying groups, plus several key legislators. We are essentially second-class citizens in hospital settings. Let’s ask them, WHY? Why the abuses, the denial, and the opposition to common-sense reform? We await their answer.