Lesbian denied access to dying partner sues hospital

Compassion has gone down the toilet in the health care business,

This is scary and sad. I'm californian but i still can't legally marry my girlfriend. If something happen to her i could be turned away at a hospital.

This is why there needs to be real marriage..like in California

a dying person should be able to see anyone whether life partner or just a lifelong friend. How would it have hurt the dying person? This moronic muppetry at its finest.

This is horrible! Who cares who is by a dying persons side, just so it's someone they love to comfort them. The hospital should be ashamed!

This is horrific!
Love is Love

Wow, I guess the Hippocratic oath means fuck all. All I have to say is I hope she wins the lawsuit, becomes owner of the hospital, and fires every asshole in the place, just to spite the bastards.

This is nothing short of a crime. Who are they to decide what is family and what isn't? The hospital knew that this was a lesbian couple and took it upon themselves to deny access. Do they feel like they did the right thing? This is absolutely horrible.

This is a perfect example of why civil rights like marriage equality are so important to those of us who are gay or lesbian. Too many crazy people can do too many crazy things if we don't have protection under the law.

what about the children were they allowed to see their mother?

She should definitely win the lawsuit. Anyone with a heart and/or brain can see how ridiculous this is. Love is universal and those who denied her entry should consider the situation if it had been one of their loved ones in the same position.

That's completely outrageous. I wish her and her children luck on the case.

Rights should be available to all people. I am straight, and i know if a gay person had rights it wouldnt hurt mine in either way. why is it such a scary thing for people to comprehend?

I just don't understand how people can treat others like this. I guess people need to be retaught what the golden rule is.

I believe that we have become sick. We have contracted such a disease in which we emotionally barricate ourselves from everyone. We have lost our ability to understand and change. Vacuustactusitus. It's an epidemic caused by a common virus called greed, but more or so often by the bacteriophages fear and control.

Diagnosing Americans everywhere,
Your Cynical 15 Year Old.

This is sooo sad to me. I'm really tired of hearing stories like this.. at the same time this should be front page news nationally! So that's sad and angry. I really hope the lawsuit comes out in her favor.

Human rights for human beings. I am sad for this family, while outraged by the callus hateful teachings of the rightwing "good christians" who have caused them this pain. You would think an educated doctor would know better than to allow it to happen. Jackson Memorial needs to receive a barrage of phone calls .

The scariest thing about this piece of news is that it happened recently--this sort of thing was regrettably common 15-20 years ago. To know that, even in 2008 when the tides are turning for Gay Rights, this type of outrageous behavior is still occurring makes one ponder how far we really have come.

A shocking story, to say the least. I hope the people at the hospital can sleep at night knowing what they've done. It's not JUST about the people they kept in the waiting room; it's also about the person who lay dying behind the scenes. She deserved to have people by her side!

This is HORRIBLE!!!

I hope she wins

This is quite awful. It is a reality that such thing as a Legal Marriage or legal bond should be allowed.

I support the hospital.

Anyone could claim to be Lisa Pond's partner; even her worse enemy, without the official documents; which in Florida, gladly, homosexuals can not marry meaning there is no official documents. As a result and additionally, the hospital could be sued for giving Janice Langbehn access to Lisa Pond's records and room because they are not officially partners in the state of Florida.

A scenario would be that Janice Langbehn is lying, but says she is telling the truth, so the hospital granted her access. However now that the hospital granted her access, Janice Langbehn can use the ill Lisa Pond's life insurance and other benefits. Mrs. Pond, Lisa Pond's mother is now suing the hospital for granting access to a person (Janice Langbehn) who is not apart of the family.

A reason why the hospital could have made the decision the way they did.


I support heterosexual marriages.

The 'land of the free' my ass. The land of the fascistic Christian missionaries in every possible corner, more like.

The Republican National Committee is funding a constitutional amendment on November's ballot in Florida, that would make it impossible for Gays and Lesbians to have equal rights in FL, creating situations like this on a regular basis.

Homophobia is disgusting.

Yes, the hospital was wrong not to allow the dying person to have someone with them visitor or otherwise. However, to allow access to the decedent's Social Security or insurance is perfectly acceptable. Homosexuality is a choice and nothing more, just like co-habitation. People have the right to establish a will and determine lines of inheritance until they die. If they failed to do so, they proceed at their own risk. The dying woman did not have a will? Tough. That's why we have probate court. Homosexuality is a violation of God's purpose for humanity. Gays having children is also a violation of that purpose. Remember, I, too, have a civil right to read the news without having deviant lifestyles rammed down my throat.

damn

It just goes to show you how far behind we are. Shame on those doctors and nurses.

thats horrible

so sad

This story makes a clear case for Civil Unions. Families are the backbone and brick and mortar of America. If these to ladies were recognized partners in life in a Civil Union, these tragic issues would have been avoided. It is horrible to have your partner die, especially with three children left behind. I feel bad that this tragic event was made even worse. I understand that many people are for "Gay Marriage", instead of Civil Unions. I believe that Civil Unions are the way to go, because it will ensure all of the rights and is an achievable goal in all 50 States.

I totally agree with you mjsmith11, Civil Unions for all should be the law of the land. Only I would give marriage back to the Religions. If people want a marriage, let them go to their Priest, Pastor, Rabbi, or Cleric. Every single "union" in the United States, should be a "civil union" equal under the law in every respect.

Gays use civil right legislation for equal treatment under law. This could be grounds for civil rights action against the group involved, stand up

Go hard or go home

Woo Hoo! Someone responded exactly as I had hoped. You tell me that I should turn off my computer and not read stories and save you having to read my opinion. Well, guess what moron, the same goes for you. You don' t have to read what I post either. Why should I be the one who goes away?

Sometimes people horribly neglect to be humane. Whatever your personal choices in life are, everyone deserves to be treated with love and respect. Empathy should be shown to all people in pain. The same kind of empathy we show our pets. Is it really so hard?

Miscegenation was legalized in the 1960's, so how come this form of prejudice is still tolerated in 2008? Wake up people!