Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100416/ap_on_bi_ge/us_obama_hospital_patients" target="_blank">http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/201...patients</a> >>In a move hailed as a step toward fairness for same-sex couples, President Barack Obama is ordering that nearly all hospitals allow patients to say who has visitation rights and who can help make medical decisions, including gay and lesbian partners. The White House on Thursday released a statement by Obama instructing his Health and Human Services secretary to draft rules requiring hospitals that receive Medicare and Medicaid payments to grant all patients the right to designate people who can visit and consult with them at crucial moments.<< That's great news. You wouldn't think it would take presidential efforts to institute basic human compassion, but sadly that's where we are. This is a huge step forward.
Originally Posted By gadzuux Most every hospital already has policies such as this. While it's nice that the president has codified this policy into law, it's hardly new or controversial. This was all hashed out twenty five years ago when HIV began it's scourge.
Originally Posted By mele Maybe this will mean less hospitals will actually honor their policies more? We can always hope, right?
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan Most, but not all. From the article: >>The Human Rights Campaign, which backs gay rights, called Obama's decision an "important action" that was inspired in part by a New York Times article about a lesbian couple in Miami. They were kept apart while one lay dying in a hospital despite having an "advanced health care directive" asking for full visitation rights for each other.<<
Originally Posted By mele Oops, not sure where "less" came in there. Maybe this will mean MORE hospitals will honor their policies... Geesh.
Originally Posted By mele That couple was on vacation in Miami from Washington State, I believe. Such a sad story.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 <You wouldn't think it would take presidential efforts to institute basic human compassion, but sadly that's where we are. > I know. And predictably, groups like the so-called Family Research Council have weighed in saying that this constitutes "special rights." How they make the leap to "special rights" when this actually just includes gay people in a right straight people take for granted is beyond me. But they've focus-grouped the term "special rights" and they know it makes people frown on the idea that those pesky gay people are getting something that other people don't have, or something.
Originally Posted By Princessjenn5795 I am so glad that this is being done. I have a very good friend that has been with his partner for about 11 years and not being able to be there for each other if one was hurt or sick has been one of their biggest fears for a long time. It is really great to know that patients will now be able to determine for themselves who can visit them or make medical decisions on their behalf. This should have been the policy all along.
Originally Posted By utahjosh I also think this is good. A patient should be able to choose with whom they want to spend their last minutes - no matter who it is. Unless it's a beloved elephant. Elephants should not be allowed in hospitals for humans. Except Dumbo, because he's small, cute, and animated.
Originally Posted By CuriouserConstance I'm posting from my laptop while seated on top of an elephant.
Originally Posted By FaMulan This order also allows the widowed who have new partners, but did not marry them to visit said partners in the hospital. People often forget that a portion of widowed seniors do find new relationships, but are reluctant to get married again.
Originally Posted By Sport Goofy I wonder how this order applies to the partners of gay and lesbian servicemembers? Will they get visitation rights at Walter Reed when their loved ones lose a limb on the battlefield in Afghanistan?
Originally Posted By TomSawyer Hospitals were stuck between a rock and a hard place. HIPPA regulations made it nearly impossible for hospitals to legally discuss medical issues with non-married partners in states where such a relationship was not legally recognized.
