For many years there has been an ongoing battle between homosexual patients of America’s healthcare system, hospital administrators and political leaders. That fight has been about giving homosexual families the same visitation rights that a heterosexual or “traditional” family would have. Up until January 18, 2011 families of homosexual patients, such as partners or adopted children, were not allowed the same visitation rights as a spouse or child in a heterosexual relationship. This has been challenged by many, but resulted in change with the case of Lisa Pond. Lisa had fallen seriously ill, and her family that consisted of her partner, Janice Langbehn, and their children together, could not visit her as they wished. After only being able to see their dying partner and mother once, Lisa died the next morning. Janice believed that this should not have been about gay, or straight, but just a form of human compassion. As a way to try to fix this problem, not only for her, but for other homosexual families, Janice sued. Sadly, she was unsuccessful in her attempts as the lawsuit was dismissed. Instead of giving up she decided to go and talk about the injustice that she had received on that day. Her call when answered, when she received a call from President Obama, stating that he was to issue a memorandum changing the policy on visitation rights. In the new policy, it states that not only will everyone receive the same treatment, regardless of gender, or sexual orientation, but also that the hospital must inform all patients of their rights. The penalties for not following this policy, can include, a hospital’s termination from the Medicare and Medicaid systems.
1 comment:
I love your post but what I wanted to know is how this is global? Maybe you could add that there are other countries in the world that prevent homosexual couples from sharing the same rights of heterosexual couples.
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