Hospital Visitation Rights Legislation-Denying patients visitors is a practice that must come to an end

Hospital Visitation Rights Legislation-Denying patients visitors is a practice that must come to an end

Chris Long discusses with Pastor Al Davis H.B. 324, legislation that will protect the rights of patients to have visitors of family, friends, and clergy at Ohio hospitals. Over the past 20 months during the pandemic, hospitals have denied patients visitation from spouses, family members, friends, and even members of the clergy.  We have received many reports from family members and individuals around the state whose loved ones were isolated in their hospital rooms, even if they weren't COVID patients.

H.B. 324 addresses the concerns of both patients and their visitors, as well as addressing the concerns of the medical facility. The bill’s provisions ensure that hospitals may require visitors to sign a waiver of liability, require screenings for symptoms of disease, require PPE, and other reasonable safety precautions. But the hospital must allow the patient to receive visits from family, caretakers, and clergy.

Joining me on the program is Pastor Al Davis who shares his own story of when he was hospitalized last year. He also suffered the same fate as other patients, as the hospital would not allow his wife, daughter, or members of the clergy to visit him while he was hospitalized for five days. CALL TO ACTION; Call your State Representatives and urge them to support H.B. 324, the hospital visitation rights bill.