http://www.democraticunderground.org/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x5597215Oh my.
Liberal_in_LA (1000+ posts) Tue May-05-09 02:59 AM
Original message
Gay man says he was forced out of partner's hospital room
PORTLAND -- A visit to Oregon Health and Science University hospital turned into a frustrating situation for a gay couple who said their rights as domestic partners were not honored until a lawyer got involved.
The domestic partner of a man who appeared to be near death was reportedly ordered to leave the room when it was time to make some major decisions about the patient.
-------------------------------
"The nurse said, 'Christopher is very ill. There are some life and death decisions that have to be made and now is not the time for friends to be in the room.' I'm like, 'we don't have any friends in the room,'" recalled Patrick.
Under Oregon law, Patrick had the right to stay in the room because the pair had been legal domestic partners for nine months. Patrick found a lawyer who made a call to the hospital and after two and a half hours, he was allowed back inside.
http://www.kgw.com/news-local/stories/kgw_042309_news_o...
As usual, it's a very large bonfire; despite my fellow alum Skins's purge of professional gays, it hasn't helped make the primitive comments lesser, and the bonfires more manageable.
Jawja (1000+ posts) Tue May-05-09 07:35 AM
Response to Reply #6
7. I betcha this nurse clearly understood the situation and deliberately chose to deny this man's rights under the law because SHE didn't agree with it. Sort of like Pharmacists who use their religious beliefs to deny legal prescriptions?
The fact that it took a lawyer and 2 hours to clear the matter up with hospital management is troubling.
LynneSin (1000+ posts) Tue May-05-09 10:10 AM
Response to Reply #6
13. Nurse needs to be punished - suspend her a few weeks
let her think about what she did wrong.
Deep13 (1000+ posts) Tue May-05-09 01:58 PM
Response to Reply #1
28. The hospital rules probably draw a clear distinction between friends and family.
It may be that she just didn't want to get fired.
Whoa.....a gay hillbilly? I thought all hillbillies were Republicans.
HillbillyBob (817 posts) Tue May-05-09 07:58 AM
Response to Original message
10. That has happened to us when I was in hospital even with power of attorney, surrogate etc. They kept him out once while I was in allergic shock from a mold allergy and once when I was having a heart attack.
We had the paper work with us, the first time the old biddy very reluctantly let him in about an hour later when he threatened legal action the second time I said don't even start I have the papers on file in your business office , besides he knows as much about my health as I do, he has the bag with my meds etc.
The first place then had me escorted out by an armed security guard when I said I was hiv pos..and this was in 2003 in Asheville NC. The only hospital in town.
Now I go to Duke and do not get any crap about it...well they have it all on file as all my paperwork like that was drawn up by their legal students and is on file in the legal and medical administration or where ever they keep that kind of thing.
I have heard of this over and over besides experiencing it myself.
The Idiot Briggs primitive, making a rare appearance; one wonders what happened with that non-paying tenant of hers.
IdaBriggs (1000+ posts) Tue May-05-09 03:19 PM
Response to Reply #22
43. Unmarried heterosexuals are also known as 'boyfriend/girlfriend' and parents/siblings trump 'friends' *unless there is legal documentation stating otherwise* which you bloody well ought to have in place if you have 'crazy people' as blood relatives and you don't want them making important decisions on your behalf.
It makes sense to me. I wouldn't have wanted some of my old ex's making life altering decisions for me, especially when things were rocky! In theory, your family is forever, and unless you choose to make a significant other 'family' under the law (marriage), odds are they are transitory / may or may not be the folks you really *want* making decisions.
NOTE: I know there are lots of folks out there who have special reasons for being the exception to these rules, but frankly, my very reasonable explanation is one of the MANY reasons I support Gay Marriage. Marriage is forever, until you get a divorce. Parenthood is longer.
It's an enormous bonfire, but it's debatable if one should pull out the boat and row over to Skins's island to view it.....maybe perhaps probably not worth the time.
edited to correct title; spelled "primitives" wrong, damn it--sorry for the inconvenience
