MA Senate Passes 'Laura's Law' After Death Outside Somerville ER

SOMERVILLE, MA — The Massachusetts Senate passed a bill Thursday that would require hospitals to ensure safe, easy access to emergency rooms 24 hours a day. The legislation is known as "Laura's Law" after Laura Levis, who died outside Somerville Hospital in 2016.

Details of Levis's death emerged in a 2018 Boston Globe Magazine story written by her husband, Peter DeMarco. Levis brought herself to the hospital in the midst of a severe asthma attack, found the door locked and called 911. She was found near the entrance to the ER about 10 minutes after placing the call and died seven days later.

The legislation would require hospitals to ensure safe patient access at all times to an emergency room or department. This could include improving indoor and outdoor signs and lighting, monitoring all emergency department access points, installing panic buttons, emergency doorbells or active video-intercom systems and other safety measures.

Following Levis's death, Somerville Hospital improved access to the emergency room, communication between emergency services and hospital staff and education regarding defined responsibilities of those involved in patient treatment, a spokesperson for its parent organization told The Boston Globe in 2018.

"Today the Senate passed Laura's Law, in memory of Laura Levis, who died feet from an emergency room when the lack of signage and dim lighting kept her from lifesaving care," Sen. Pat Jehlen, a sponsor of the bill, wrote on Twitter. "The standards in this bill will ensure that nobody loses precious minutes navigating to an emergency room."

"Laura's Law" will now move to the house for consideration.

Previously: 'Laura's Law' Bills Filed After Death Outside Somerville Hospital

Somerville Hospital Leaders Admit Mistakes In Laura Levis's Death

Laura Levis Story Prompts Somerville Aldermen Order