Health Facility Patient's Visitation Right (Hospital Designee Bill)

Take action by Thursday, February 4, 2010

Contact:	·	Public Relations Team (877) KEF-5775 - Ext 1 (office)
	·	Richard Jones, Administration (877) KEF-5775 (office)

SUMMARY: AN ACT relating to a health facility patient's visitation rights. Create a new section of KRS Chapter 216B to allow a patient of a health facility who is 18 years of age or older to designate, in writing, an individual not legally related by marriage or blood, who the patient wishes to have visitation rights; require the health facility to note this designation in the patient's permanent medical records; provide that the patient may rescind the designation at any time, in writing.

Mary Lou Marzian (D-Louisville), pre-filed the Hospital Designee Bill (House Bill 118). This bill would allow anyone 18 and older to designate a non-blood relative as having hospital room access.

What the bill means for gay people is that hospitals would no longer be allowed to keep domestic partners out of hospital rooms if those partners are permitted by the patient.

We would hear no more horror stories of partners sitting in the waiting room while their loved ones die alone, or their family will not allow their partner to visit them.

PLEASE INCLUDE YOUR COMPLETE MAILING ADDRESS, EMAIL ADDRESS, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER FOR YOUR ELECTED OFFICIAL!

UPDATE: House Bill 118 passed Committee and the full House of Representatives and was sent to the Kentucky Senate on January 18, 2010. Kentucky Equality Federation appeals to Senate President David L. Williams to pass it in the Senate. (more)

Sample Letter

Send email to:
Kentucky House of Representatives

Message Subject:

Message Body:
Forget about political maneuvers and electoral games. Ignore the platitudes and moralisms of extremists. When talking about being able to visit a loved one in a hospital, it is something many take for granted. Gay partners can be denied access to their partners in critical situations. Why deny someone access to a sick or injured person? I ask you to support House Bill 118, the Hospital Designee Bill; if you are not currently a co-sponsor, please contact Senior Representative Mary Lou Marzian and co-sponsor House Bill 118. What this bill means for gay people is that hospitals would no longer be allowed to keep domestic partners out of hospital rooms if those partners are permitted by the patient. We would hear no more horror stories of partners sitting in the waiting room while their loved ones die alone. As a citizen of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, I support this legislation and ask that you do the same. House Bill 118 would create a new section of KRS Chapter 216B to allow a patient of a health facility who is 18 years of age or older to designate, in writing, an individual not legally related by marriage or blood, who the patient wishes to have visitation rights; require the health facility to note this designation in the patient's permanent medical records; provide that the patient may rescind the designation at any time, in writing. cc: Kentucky Equality Federation

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