President Obama Orders Hospital Visitation Rights for Same-Sex Couples
source: http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2010/04/15/obama-seeks-hospital-visit-rights-for-gays-lesbians/?hp...
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- EthicalVegan
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[Updated at 7:57 p.m.] The president's memo Thursday notes that "There are few moments in our lives that call for great compassion and companionship that when a loved one is admitted to the hospital ... Yet every day, all across America, patients are denied the kindnesses and caring of a loved one at their sides ..."
Gay and lesbian Americans are "uniquely affected" by the relatives-only policy at hospitals, Obama said, adding that they "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."
The president listed widowers without children and members of certain religious orders among those who suffer under the policy.
[Posted at 7:49 p.m.] President Barack Obama has told the Department of Health and Human Services to establish a rule that would not allow hospitals to deny visitation privileges to gay and lesbian partners.
Displaying 11 Comments | Add comment
1
April 15th, 2010
7:57 pm ET
Thank you, Mr. President.
Posted by: Kate
2
April 15th, 2010
7:58 pm ET
What a great and admirable move. I do have a lot of this respect for Obama and what' he's done already for Gay rights. Can't wait to see where this momentum will take the gay community.
Posted by: Chris
3
April 15th, 2010
7:59 pm ET
Rationality? From a President? I love it!
Posted by: Bob Zmuda
4
April 15th, 2010
7:59 pm ET
Long overdue, and really only a minor "step forward", but good for the Prez for actually doing SOMETHING for the LGBT folks.
Posted by: Red
5
April 15th, 2010
8:00 pm ET
poco a poco. little by little.
Someday....
Someday people will look back and they won't be able to believe that GLBT folks were denied some of the most basic rights.
Posted by: Ron
6
April 15th, 2010
8:00 pm ET
FINALLY!
I'm not homosexual, but I totally support this change in policy and am so happy that the President is recognizing this basic human right!
Congratulations to everyone who this will effect!
Posted by: Katie
7
April 15th, 2010
8:00 pm ET
Would you expect anything less from Obama?
Posted by: STORYBURNCOM
8
April 15th, 2010
8:05 pm ET
It may be a very long overdue and obvious policy for most people to see, but it is still a hugely important step which should not be overlooked.
Posted by: AK
9
April 15th, 2010
8:05 pm ET
He should really delegate this activity to cabinet members with his signature. We really have more pressing matters to deal with – like California State Bankruptcy and the trillions of National Debt. Maybe if the economy was moving well – employed gay couples could afford a doctor to take care of their sick partner at home.
Posted by: Happy Calif
10
April 15th, 2010
8:05 pm ET
little by little--Rome wasn't built in a day--this man can multi-task unlike his predecessor who could barely speak!
Posted by: Rob W
11
April 15th, 2010
8:06 pm ET
Thank You Mr. President!!!! NoH8
Posted by: Raul
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EthicalVegan
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CNN UPDATE
Obama orders hospital visitation rights for gays, lesbians
By the CNN Wire StaffApril 15, 2010 8:41 p.m. EDT
STORY HIGHLIGHTS* Rule sought to allow gays, lesbians to visit hospitalized partners
* Many hospitals have relatives-only policies; rule would allow patients to decide
* Gay and lesbian Americans are "uniquely affected" by those policies, Obama saysWashington (CNN) -- President Obama has asked the Department of Health and Human Services to establish a rule that would prevent hospitals from denying visitation privileges to gay and lesbian partners.
The president's Thursday memo said, "There are few moments in our lives that call for greater compassion and companionship than when a loved one is admitted to the hospital. ... Yet every day, all across America, patients are denied the kindnesses and caring of a loved one at their sides."
Gay and lesbian Americans are "uniquely affected" by relatives-only policies at hospitals, Obama said, adding that they "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."
Obama requested that the regulation make clear that any hospital receiving Medicare and Medicaid funding, which includes the vast majority of U.S. hospitals, must allow patients to decide who can visit them and prohibit discrimination based on a variety of characteristics, including sexual orientation and gender identity.
The president listed widows and widowers without children and members of certain religious orders among those who suffer under the policy.
The memo was welcomed by gays and lesbians, who have used the restrictions on hospital visitation as an argument in favor of same-sex marriage.
"In the absence of gay people being able to legally marry in most jurisdictions, this is a step to rectify a gross inequity," said David Smith, an executive at the Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest gay rights group. "Because without gay marriage, much more inequities exist. It should be applauded."
Smith said the organization had been working with the Obama administration for months on the request, and that it was sparked by the case of a Florida lesbian couple who were kept apart as one died from an aneurysm. The rule would help hundreds of thousands of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender families, he said.
Obama's memo also requires the HHS regulations to guarantee hospitals honor all patients' advance directives, which include stipulations such as who should make health care decisions if the patient isn't able to do so. The memo also directs the department to look into any other health care barriers that pose challenges to such families and make recommendations to the president on them within 180 days.
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EthicalVegan
