Preventing Same-Sex Couples Hospital Visitation Rights

[Cin]

Originally Posted by Corkey

http://www.hrcbackstory.org/2011/09/.../#.TmfUmRwUEiJ

New guidelines from HHS

"Existing CoPs protect the rights of hospital patients to have representatives who can act on their behalf, however HHS updated the guidance for these rules to emphasize that hospitals should give deference to patients’ wishes concerning their representatives, whether expressed in writing, orally, or through other evidence, unless prohibited by state law."

This part sounds like a loophole to me. Maybe I'm wrong. But the wording sounds like if a state has a law (or gets one passed) then all bets are off and the gay partner cannot act on behalf of his or her hospitalized partner. I guess he or she can still visit their partner.