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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 16, 2010
Obama Issues Important Medical Decision Making Protections
CONTACT:
Morgan Meneses- Sheets, Executive Director
410 685-6567 (office)
202 812-9229 (cell)
morgan@equalitymaryland.org
Baltimore, MD - Equality Maryland commends President Obama who last night issued a directive to the Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop policies around visitation for all hospitals in the nation that receive Medicare and Medicaid money. Specifically, the subject of the directive is: Respecting the Rights of Hospital Patients to Receive Visitors and to Designate Surrogate Decision Makers for Medical Emergencies.
"This will impact virtually every hospital in the United States and is a concrete step from the administration to alleviate potentially devastating issues for LGBT couples across the nation," said Morgan Meneses-Sheets, Executive Director of Equality Maryland.
Maryland has statutory protections for medical decision making and hospital visitation. The Medical Decision Making Act was passed in 2005. It was vetoed by then Governor Ehrlich. Governor O'Malley signed the measure after taking office. The bill granted same-gender couples basic protections like the ability to make medical decisions, ride in an ambulance together or share a room in a nursing home.
"Our state enacted protections after legislators heard the horrifying stories of people thrown out of a hospital room when their partner was emerging from heart surgery, refused access as their partner received an anesthetic before giving birth to their second child or forced out of the important end of life decisions of their long-time partner because their relationship was not acknowledged," said Ms. Meneses-Sheets.
"Equality Maryland is proud of the work that we have done, but what happens when we leave Maryland for a family vacation? Will we be provided the same protections in another state? This directive will provide the comfort of knowing that we do not lose these essential rights the minute we cross the border."
Advocates say that this is about affirming the rights of a person to designate who they feel would be best to carry out their wishes.
"When you're worried about somebody who is ill and you want to be there for support, the last thing you need is to be fighting with a nurse just to be in the room," added Ms. Meneses-Sheets.
"There are few times that are more important to have relationships accepted than in times of medical emergencies," she concluded.
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Equality Maryland is Maryland's largest LGBT civil rights organization, focused on making life better for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender citizens of Maryland. Equality Maryland works to secure and protect the rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Marylanders by promoting legislative initiatives on the state, county and municipal levels and educating the public about the issues faced by our diverse community.
Equality Maryland can be found online at www.equalitymaryland.org.