President Obama Tells Federal Agency To Estabish Rule Barring Hospitals From Denying Visitation to Gay, Lesbian Partners

[Bit]

This is so wonderful!!!!

[MsDemeanor]

I wonder if they'll cave to the damn churches and allow an exception for faith-based hospitals that's surely going to be demanded. That'll screw over tons of folks. I don't know about the rest of the county but here in California the catholics own a bucket load of hospitals, many in rural areas where there's no alternative.

[Oiler41]

This is wonderful news! Not long ago we were discussing the need to get all the ironclad legal wrangling done to ensure that we are both protected within our relationship. We will still likely complete a medical power of attorney, but at least there won't be all the hassle at the hospital should one of us find ourselves there. Progress is progress, no matter how small!

Glynn

[Laidbackgrly]

You know there are still some nice people in this world ive never been denied to see my partner when they were sick or ill i was always helped right to them be cause they are afraid of this red head laffsi think they would hate to hear me make a scene

[AtLast]

Originally Posted by MsDemeanor

I wonder if they'll cave to the damn churches and allow an exception for faith-based hospitals that's surely going to be demanded. That'll screw over tons of folks. I don't know about the rest of the county but here in California the catholics own a bucket load of hospitals, many in rural areas where there's no alternative.

Oh, I bet this comes up immediately!! Without a doubt! Wonder what Huckabee will be spouting??!! My first guess as someone that will be all over this Friday!! We might want to marryy horses, you know... and view children as puppies...

I'm glad to see this happen, but, I'm reeling about the likes of Larry King getting his 8th divorce as a straight man (appears he's been bonking his sister-in-law). Now, how is it that same-sex marriage negatively affects the sanctity of heterosexual marriage?

Also, it is taking a presidential order (or is it a directive) to secure human kindness in the face of illness. Guess I do feel like this is somewhat of a political bone being thrown our way. Yet, it does feel good when thinking about those of us that are in this situation at this very moment.

Maybe just grouchy today….

[Mitmo01]

politcal directive or not if my wife was in the hospital and i was not allowed to see here it would take a helluva lot of stopping power to keep me away.....i would go apechit on whoever was stopping me and probably end up in the hospital myself.....that is one situation where i would act before i thought and consequences be damned..then i would proceed to every media outlet or whoever would listen and whatever lawyer would i could talk to.....simply i would be seeing red

[Peach]

Our friends Jan and Lisa were profoundly affected, Lisa was stricken with a fatal brain aneurysm. Even though she had power of attorney, for 8 hours hospital staff refused to allow Janice and her children in to see her dying partner of over 20 years — with one employee informing her that she was in an antigay city and antigay state.
Finally, when they were taking Lisa off life support, and donating her organs, Lisa's sister got a priest to get them to allow Jan and the kids to say goodbye, then they had to leave. Obama called Jan yesterday and told her that what happened to her was "outrageous" and thanked her for her courage.
As we celebrate this, send a prayer to Jan and their kids. They struggle every day to get past what they were put through.

[Linus]

My thoughts and prayers will definitely be for all the "Jans" and kids affected by not having this in place.

But I gotta wonder what's wrong with society that we have to enforce a rule to allow human kindness, compassion and understanding?

[terrificme]

My heart goes out to Jan and kids. Tragedy, sadness, loneliness and despair taught me that life is really a beautiful thing; if it wasn't I wouldn't be able to recognize that anything was wrong.

[Andrew, Jr.]

I am thrilled to hear this news. However, I would much rather see some laws on the books. In the meantime, I will have legal documents in my hands.

[Rufusboi]

Originally Posted by AtLastHome

Oh, I bet this comes up immediately!! Without a doubt! Wonder what Huckabee will be spouting??!! My first guess as someone that will be all over this Friday!! We might want to marryy horses, you know... and view children as puppies...

I'm glad to see this happen, but, I'm reeling about the likes of Larry King getting his 8th divorce as a straight man (appears he's been bonking his sister-in-law). Now, how is it that same-sex marriage negatively affects the sanctity of heterosexual marriage?

Also, it is taking a presidential order (or is it a directive) to secure human kindness in the face of illness. Guess I do feel like this is somewhat of a political bone being thrown our way. Yet, it does feel good when thinking about those of us that are in this situation at this very moment.

Maybe just grouchy today….

Whatever the motivations it makes a huge difference. I'm just going to take this on face value. Me and Melissa have all the paperwork, wills, directives, you name it but it often doesn't make a darn difference. Now we both feel a lot more secure. Its one less thing to worry about.

Rufus

[MsTinkerbelly]

AP – By CHARLES BABINGTON, Associated Press Writer Charles Babington, Associated Press Writer – Fri Apr 16, 6:42 am ET
WASHINGTON – 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.
The designated visitors should have the same rights that immediate family members now enjoy, Obama's instructions said. It said Medicare-Medicaid hospitals, which include most of the nation's facilities, may not deny visitation and consultation privileges on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability.

The move was called a major step toward fairness for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans.

"This is a critical step in ending discrimination against LGBT families and ensuring that, in the event of a hospital stay, all Americans have the right to see their loved ones," said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.

The new rules, Obama said, should "guarantee that all patients' advance directives, such as durable powers of attorney and health care proxies, are respected," and that patients' designees be able to "make informed decisions regarding patients' care."

Some gay advocacy groups say Obama has moved too slowly to fulfill campaign promises to expand their civil rights. The nation's top military leaders recently said it is time to end the "don't ask, don't tell" policy that has kept gays from serving openly in the armed services.

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.

"Discrimination touches every facet of the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, including at times of crisis and illness," said HRC President Joe Solmonese. "The president's action today will help ensure that the indignities" suffered by the Miami patient and her children will not happen to others.

In his statement, Obama said: "Every day, all across America, patients are denied the kindnesses and caring of a loved one at their sides — whether in a sudden medical emergency or a prolonged hospital stay. Often, a widow or widower with no children is denied the support and comfort of a good friend."

He added: "Also uniquely affected are gay and lesbian Americans who are often barred from the bedsides of the partners with whom they may have spent decades of their lives — unable to be there for the person they love, and unable to act as a legal surrogate if their partner is incapacitated."

Without the expanded visitor-designation rights, Obama said, "all too often, people are made to suffer or even to pass away alone, denied the comfort of companionship in their final moments while a loved one is left worrying and pacing down the hall."

[MsTinkerbelly]

Even private Hospitals receive payments from Medi-cal/Medicare. In some of the poorest areas of Southern California there are primarily older people, and people who for one reason or another are on Medi-cal, and there are several Catholic Hospitals.

California is a bit different (in my experience), as no one I know has ever been barred from a room or decisions for their partner, even in a Catholic Hospital. When I was unable to make decisions for myself, they were quite happy to let Kasey make them for me.

I imagine this will be a huge fight, and I hope Obama is able to enforce the policy. Only time will tell.

[Rufusboi]

Originally Posted by MsDemeanor

I wonder if they'll cave to the damn churches and allow an exception for faith-based hospitals that's surely going to be demanded. That'll screw over tons of folks. I don't know about the rest of the county but here in California the catholics own a bucket load of hospitals, many in rural areas where there's no alternative.

Based on the intial story it doesn't sound like it. The only way the Catholic hospitals could get around it is to refuse medicare and Medicaid. Most hospitals can't do this because they need the money.

Rufus