QLaw: the GLBT Bar Association of Washington - Obama directs hospitals to respect patients' right to designate visitors

* Email

* Password

Remember me

Forgot password

Back to list

Obama directs hospitals to respect patients' right to designate visitors

15 Apr 2010 7:08 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

The President's memorandum to the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services includes the following: HHS should promulgate rules for hospitals that receive Medicaid or Medicare funds that require them to respect the rights of patients to designate visitors. HHS should also take steps to ensure that such hospitals have adequate policies to respect the legal documents that some patients have designating who can make decisions for them if they are incapacitated. Finally, the President directs HHS to report back to him in 180 days with additional recommendations about actions it can take to address hospital visitation, medical decision-making and other health care issues that affect LGBT patients and their families.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/presidential-memorandum-hospital-visitation

http://www.lambdalegal.org/news/pr/us_20100415_president-obama-issues-memo-on-lgbt-health-issues.html

Add comment