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Fresno Hospital Takes Steps to End Discrimination Against Same-Sex CouplesCommunity Regional Medical Center in Fresno, California, has agreed to make policy changes and conduct staff trainings to ensure that the rights of its LGBT patients and family members are properly respected. The changes are being made in response to a demand letter by American Civil Liberties Union and the National Center for Lesbian Rights on behalf of a lesbian who was barred from visiting her partner and giving advice about her treatment at the hospital. The incident took place while the couple was in Fresno to attend the Meet in the Middle for Marriage Equality March on May 30, 2009. Kristin Orbin was rushed to the emergency room after suffering from an epileptic seizure at the march. She and her partner of four years, Teresa Rowe, had traveled from the Bay Area to attend the march. Although Rowe, who grew up in nearby Clovis, California, was well aware of Orbin’s medical history and how she responded to various medications, hospital staff refused to allow her to speak with the doctors treating Orbin or to visit with her. As a result, Orbin was given the drug Ativan that she didn’t need and which caused her unnecessary pain. After the couple had been separated for several hours, Orbin finally saw her doctor. She complained to him, and Rowe was eventually allowed to be with her. According to a letter Community Medical Centers sent to the ACLU and NCLR announcing the policy change and training, the hospital is in the early stages of reviewing all its policies dealing with LGBT patients and foresees further changes in addition to the promised training and policy changes. It has also agreed to keep the ACLU and NCLR apprised of its progress. The ACLU is pleased that the hospital is taking these important steps to ensure fair treatment for its lesbian and gay patients. But as long as same-sex couples are denied the ability to marry and the legal protections and universal recognition that comes automatically with it, this kind of discrimination will likely continue. A copy of the demand letter and its response is available here.
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5 Responses to "Fresno Hospital Takes Steps to End Discrimination Against Same-Sex Couples" |
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Dec 16th, 2009 at 5:52pm
Have you heard of HIPPA???
Dec 18th, 2009 at 4:18pm
It is refreshing to read of an organization that recognizes it has made a mistake and immediately acts to prevent a similar future mistake.
Good work by all involved.
Dec 22nd, 2009 at 10:29pm
Maggie what does the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 have to do with this. Check
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/m2e411a1.htm for more information.
HIPAA does set guidelines on sharing patient information, which might prevent her partner from getting information, but would not bar her from visiting or providing information about her history.
Dec 30th, 2009 at 8:41pm
All I know is that recently my husband was rushed to the hospital. He had to sign a HIPPA statement before I was able to receive any information at all.
Jan 4th, 2010 at 11:56am
Maggie - I hope that your husband is OK now.
The Fresno hospital situation was scary. Not only could one partner not receive information, she could not provide life-critical information. This is not covered by HIPAA.