LGBT visitation rights in effect for federally funded hospitals

Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) visitation rights went into effect Tuesday for all hospitals that receive 

federal funding, which includes Medicare and Medicaid payments.

These new regulations were initiated last April after President Barack Obama heard about a situation in which a woman was not allowed to visit her partner before she died.

Southern Methodist University senior Cameron Silva, who is gay, said, "I have always been shocked that this is even an issue. No matter what the makeup of a family consists of, everyone should have the right to have their loved ones at their side when they need them the most. Denying a patient access to his or her family is a clear violation of human rights."

Under the new rights, patients are now allowed to decide visitation rights as well as designate whomever they trust with making medical decisions on his or her behalf in the case of an emergency.

President of College Republicans Chad Cohen supports the passage of the new LGBT rights, believing that these regulations affect more than just the LGBT community.

"This law represents both an effort to respect the fundamental humanity and dignity of gay people everywhere, while at the same time ensuring that the tradition of personal freedom in this country remains intact," Cohen said.

Federally funded hospitals in Dallas include Parkland Hospital and University of Texas Southwestern Medical Hospital.

Miriam Sibley, the senior vice president and chief nursing officer at Parkland Hospital, said, "Parkland will continue to offer an open visitation policy to all patients and their family members. Research has shown that patient care is greatly enhanced by the more time a family spends with the patient."

Ordinance 24927 in the city of Dallas, which passed in 2002, prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in housing, employment and public accommodations.

UT Southwestern's policy states, "The hospital prohibits discrimination based on age, race, ethnicity, religion, culture, language, physical or mental disability, socioeconomic status, sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity or expression."

It furthers by stating, "When and where appropriate, each patient shall be provided with a written statement of patient rights and a notice of privacy practices. These statements include the rights of a patient to make decisions regarding his or her medical care and a patient's rights related to his or her protected health information maintained by the hospital."

Silva believes minorities in general are being given a bigger voice in society today and that important issues such as these are being heard.

"The new regulations regarding hospital visitation rights are a huge step forward for the LGBT community," Silva said. "The widespread support for these changes really parallels the progress that the LGBT community has made in recent years."

By Sarah Kramer SMUDailyCampus.com