http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100416/ap_on_bi_ge/us_obama_hospital_patients

Some of you probably think I'm just a tired old queen that does nothing but complain. Well, today our president did something wonderful for the gay world and I want to be the first to congratulate him. He is ordering hospitals that receive Medicare and Medicaid benefits to allow patients the right to have any visitors that they choose. It no longer has to be the immediate family and the family no longer has the ability to veto who comes in to see the patient.

There have been way too many cases when a devoted domestic partner has been turned away at his or her lover's hospital door because the two are not blood relations and are not legally married. I have personally known many people who have suffered from this. I have known of cases where the patient was in a coma and the lover could not even get a medical update.

Thank you, President Obama! You're a great guy!

Hmm, so I guess HIPAA no longer applies?

I don't see anything wrong with this. I think it's a simple act of compassion on the part of the President. A person should have the right to decide who sees him/her in the hospital. I don't view this as a political issue at all. I view this as a human issue.

I'll start by saying, good for you. You should be the first to congratulate him around here.

And I'll end by saying this is a good move...whether you agree with the marriage thing or not is irrelevant. The fact that someone couldn't go see their significant other is stupid.

FairwoodKing wrote: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100416/ap_on_bi_ge/us_obama_hospital_patients

Some of you probably think I'm just a tired old queen that does nothing but complain.

Pretty much, yeah.

Approve of Bam's move here though.

Can a President do this? This isn't a law. I am very confused about this process.

The intent is understandable. The authority is carry this out is what I uncertain of.

The article suggested that the patient be allowed to say who has visitation rights. Sometimes that's not possible. What rules apply then? ...the existing hospital rule?

Con_Alma wrote: Can a President do this? This isn't a law. I am very confused about this process.

The intent is understandable. The authority is carry this out is what I uncertain of.

The article suggested that the patient be allowed to say who has visitation rights. Sometimes that's not possible. What rules apply then? ...the existing hospital rule?

Very good questions, CA. I was wondering pretty much the same things. I don't know if the President can "rule from the White House", it seems to me that Congress would have to approve(?) first, before it becomes law?

Seems like it he is using his power of issuing declarations through his Cabinet officials, which many Presidents have done. Since the hospitals take federal funding, then they are under the umbrella of the HHS.

I support the move, and can't really see the problems with this move.

Here's the problem....if the patient can't say who does and does not have visitation rights what rules apply???

These rules do not simply apply to Gays and Lesbians but those folks who may not be married and any other person who a patient may want to have visit. It is a good thing to place thise decision in the hands of the patient when able. That's a very positive thing.

FairwoodKing wrote: He is ordering hospitals that receive Medicare and Medicaid benefits to allow patients the right to have any visitors that they choose.

I think that's a great move. It only makes sense that someone in the hospital gets to say who they do and do not want to visit them.

This situations (hospital visits) is one of the main reasons I've always been for same sex civil unions.

Now maybe same sex marriages/civil unions aren't neede?

Sorry FWK, I just had to throw that one out there for you.

^^^^

I agree jmog. A simple notarized affirmation is all that should be required of any couple to be recognized publicly for available benefits and rights. State sanctioned marriages for ANY sexual orientation should not exist.

About time. Good news for both LGBT patients as well as others in similar situations.

SQ_Crazies wrote: I'll start by saying, good for you. You should be the first to congratulate him around here.

And I'll end by saying this is a good move...whether you agree with the marriage thing or not is irrelevant. The fact that someone couldn't go see their significant other is stupid.

Agreed.

As someone who has had to visit the hospital on 6 different occaisions in the past 2 years, i have never found this to be a problem.When my dad kept going in for his heart, my gf was always allowed in, 3am in the emergency room, 11pm in the cardiothoracic surgery unit and so on. when my friend broke her back a whole group of us went an visited her in the icu, not only outside of visiting hours, but a larger group than they said they allowed. when dad had his kidney out he had friends visiting him after visiting hours. All those times, no one ever said anything.

My only question is...with all the sick people in the hospital, many with weakened immune systems, won't they be more likely to contract the gay if there are more homosexuals allowed to visit partners?

cbus4life wrote: My only question is...with all the sick people in the hospital, many with weakened immune systems, won't they be more likely to contract the gay if there are more homosexuals allowed to visit partners?

LOL

So that's why I find myself watching more Lifetime lately.

I would agree with this, and I'm not a pro-gay marriage guy at all.

The key to this, as it always has been, is to have a Durable Power of Attorney assigning your significant other certain rights. This was the correct process even before Obama made this order.

It should be noted, even after this Executive Order is finalized, gay couples/straight domestic partners, still will need to have a POA confirming their partner has the right to be aware of the patient's health status and be able to make decisions if necessary in the event of a coma or incompetantcy.

I am sure a lot of people will misconstrue that Obama is giving a fee pass to gay lovers/straight domestic partners without a POA.

What a crock of baloney.

Whether Obama has the authority to do this or not (I'd question it) -- this is NOTHING MORE THAN A PR MOVE AND TOTALLY NOT NECESSARY.

Anyone with half a brain who is in a relationship not bound by marriage laws should have in place both a living will and a medical power of attorney, both of which legally spell out the relationship between partners and who has the final say if the patient is unable to speak for himself.

All of this has been available to gay people and unmarried partners FOREVER.

If you are truly serious about your relationship and you aren't married -- you should already have legal documents in place that take care of all this. You don't need the president (or any other government entity) to do it for you.

More nanny state nonsense.

Come on people, TAKE CARE OF YOURSELVES.

jmog wrote: This situations (hospital visits) is one of the main reasons I've always been for same sex civil unions.

Now maybe same sex marriages/civil unions aren't neede?

Sorry FWK, I just had to throw that one out there for you.

Married couples have well over a hundred legal rights that non-married couples don't have. Hospital visitation is just one of them.

FairwoodKing wrote:

jmog wrote: This situations (hospital visits) is one of the main reasons I've always been for same sex civil unions.

Now maybe same sex marriages/civil unions aren't neede?

Sorry FWK, I just had to throw that one out there for you.

Married couples have well over a hundred legal rights that non-married couples don't have. Hospital visitation is just one of them.

It was said tongue in cheek...hence the smiley face...