Obama To Establist Visitation In Hospitals For Gays

[Guest Donna Jean]

Washington (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.

As it stands right now only relatives can visit in a hospital...

Many Gay and Lesbian partners have been together for decades, yet when one falls ill, the other can not visit...

THAT IS WRONG!

At a time when one needs the love of a partner, they are denied...Barbaric!

Lets hope that this ruling also includes unmarried Trans partners...

Many of us can not marry...For instance...I live in OHIO, one of the three states where a birth certificate can not be changed as to gender!

So, after a complete transition to female, I could not marry a male...I'd be stuck...

My wishes and hopes to this working out!

LOVE

Donna Jean

[Guest ~Brenda~]

DJ hon,

When I see things like this and discover that someone like the President has to urge Hospitals to become humane. It makes me realize that we are still so very much in the stone age. At this point in time in our human history, I would have expected that by now, it would be clear as to who the loved ones are. A piece of paper (a marriage lisence) does not indicate love. Visitation based soley on legality is inhumane. I do hope that President Obama succeeds in his efforts to persuade the Hospitals to do what is humane. It is sad that the Hospitals have to be persuaded in the first place. It should be self-evident what is humane and right.

Sigh....

Brenda

[Guest Jean Davis]

I'm not understanding why it's not the patient's right to allow anyone he/she wants to visit come and visit.

Last time I had a hospital stay the nurses made me make out a list of people that could come and visit and they didn't have to be related.

How about if you have no relatives or you don't get along with them.

And why do we loose those rights as an American citizen when we are admitted to a hospital?

I swear, this must be the most backward civilized country I ever heard of.

LUV

Jean

[Carolyn Marie]

I'm not understanding why it's not the patient's right to allow anyone he/she wants to visit come and visit.

Jean

Jean, I think the rule would kick in when the patient is unconscious or unable to state a preference for visitation.

It's an excellent decision, and I agree with you, Donna Jean, that it should be extended to trans-partners.

Maybe someone could answer this question - would it be honored if you put a note in your wallet or purse indicating visitation preferences in the event you were

unable to state a preference while hospitalized? In the absence of regulations and laws, that might help if it were valid.

Carolyn Marie