Right to see your spouse in the hospital.
If you are married, you have the right to see your spouse if he or she is in the hospital. Did you know, however, that gay partners were not allowed to see their partners in the hospitals? Routinely same sex or opposite sex partners were banned from contact with their partner if that person was incapacitated in some manner. I cannot fathom a worst time to learn that you cannot be with your spouse/partner.
On April 15, 2010, the following document was issued by the Obama administration: Memorandum to Secretary of Health and Human Services: Respecting the Rights of Hospital Patients to Receive Visitors and to Designate Surrogate Decision Makers for Medical Emergencies. President Obama mandated that any hospital that receives Medicare or Medicaid funding (basically all hospitals) extend visitation rights to the partners of gay men and lesbians. (Applies to opposite sex partners as well.)
As I am preparing for a talk in September on the rights of unmarried individuals in N.C., I’m finding all sorts of interests tidbits. I will continue to pass them on so that you can discuss amongst yourselves.
