PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Congressional Research Service
Version 00 · Introduced in House · Sep 12, 2017
Policies to Address Tragic Injuries Enabled by Never events Thoroughly Act or the PATIENT Act
This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), through the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), the National Surgery Office, and the National Center for Patient Safety, to develop: (1) a system-wide plan to decrease never events that incorporates technological tools; and (2) an operating room fire safety plan that requires the reporting of operating room fires, the inclusion of certain directives to mitigate fire-related risks, and a pilot project that tests new operating room fire safety technology at multiple VHA medical facilities.
"Never event" means an event involving the delivery of (or failure to deliver) hospital care or medical services at a VA medical facility in which there is a serious error in patient care or services that is identifiable, usually preventable, and that indicates a deficiency in the safety and process controls with respect to the physician or medical facility involved. Such term includes operating room fires.
People & committees
Rep. Norcross, Donald [D-NJ-1] · D–NJ
Legislative record
A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Primary sources
Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.
No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.
Source last updated: Aug 11, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
AI Conversation Starters
Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.
Analyze H.R.3752 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.
Examine H.R.3752 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.
Examine H.R.3752 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.
Examine H.R.3752 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.