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Statement On Presidential Memorandum Regarding Hospital Visitation Rights

Statement

Date: April 15, 2010
Issues: Senior Citizens Unemployed and Low-Income Entitlements and the Safety Net Health Insurance Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity

"President Obama's decision to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to take steps to ensure that hospitals participating in Medicare or Medicaid respect the rights of patients to receive visitors and designate others to make decisions about medical care in the case of an emergency is the right one. It follows the lead of many states and makes a strong statement about who we are as a nation and what we value.

No one should face the distress of lying ill or injured in a hospital bed with the loved one you designate barred from your bedside for any other than a compelling medical reason. For too long, such access has been arbitrarily denied many individuals, most especially to gay and lesbian Americans.

President Obama's action tonight puts us another step closer toward our goal of equal rights for all Americans and I applaud his decision."


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