This just shouldn't happen anymore.

BostonGayGal

Here's a story that is just disgusting.  The link to the story is here: https://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2009/09/yes-they-can-do-this-to-us.html#moreJanice Langbehn, Lisa Marie Pond and three of their four children planned a cruise in February 2007 to celebrate the couple's 18 years together. But Pond suffered a massive stroke before the ship left port and was taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital. Hospital workers refused to let Langbehn into Pond's hospital room - even after a power of attorney was faxed to the hospital -- because they were not legally related...Pond was pronounced dead of a brain aneurysm about 18 hours after being admitted to the trauma center. Langbehn said she was only allowed in to see her partner for a few minutes when a priest gave Pond the last rites."I never thought almost 20 years of love and family could be disregarded in an instant," Langbehn said.Langbehn sued the hospital. Yesterday, she lost, as the case was dismissed by federal court:"Today?s ruling comes after the Public Health Trust of the Miami Dade County, the governing body of Jackson Memorial Hospital, filed a motion to dismiss the case. The court ruled that the hospital has neither an obligation to allow their patients? visitors nor any obligation whatsoever to provide their patients? families, healthcare surrogates, or visitors with access to patients in their trauma unit." The link:https://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2009/09/yes-they-can-do-this-to-us.html#more 

bostonjen

That's so sad!  I feel terrible for her family and completely disgusted by the hospital. 

Alex17

UGH.

caffinated_tulip

That makes me sick to my stomach

heather527

I just don't get it. I do not understand it. I think that people get so wrapped up in their political/theological convictions that they don't realize the people they are hurting are human beings as well.

starsmaycollide

I hate hearing that this happens

I saved the link. It ticks me off when conservatives tell me that isn't really true about hospitals. Well, it is true for that family, and that is one too many!  No one should experience that, ever.

Anasara

Terrible.

swimrbride

That is absolutely disguesting. I wonder if she can appeal...if only for the principle of it.

BostonGayGal

Legally, the court may well be right that the hospital has no obligation.  But morally, the hospital seems to have turned their back upon human suffering instead of helping to alleviate it.

I wish people knew/cared enough to boycott or cause them some negative publicity.

BostonGayGal

fredalina:

i'm all for gay marriage.  i do have a question, though.  Is there any legal paperwork they could have signed in advance to prevent this?  My anti-gay-rights friends say there is and marriage/civil union isn't necessary.

They did.  It is called a 'power of attorney' (mentioned in the op) and people write them to allow others to sign for them/make decisions for them should they become unable.  It was faxed to the hospital from the attorney's office. 

ValentineBB

caffinated_tulip:

That makes me sick to my stomach

This.  So very sad.