Denial of Partner Access
In 2007, Jackson denied a lesbian, Janice Langbehn, access to her partner of 17 years as she was dying of an aneurism. Langbehn also claimed that Jackson refused to take medical information about her partner from Langbehn, and ignored a power of attorney sent via fax to the hospital's trauma center.
A lawsuit was filed against the hospital as a result. Jackson stated that, "it has no obligation to allow their patients' visitors nor any obligation whatsoever to their patients’ families, healthcare surrogates, and visitors." The presiding judge, Adalberto Jordan, dismissed the case, stating that Langbehn had no relief under Florida law. Jordan found that Langbehn had not been "denied the right to make any medical decision on behalf of" her partner.
On April 13, 2010, Jackson announced that it had revised its policies to ensure equal access for LGBT families.
Two days after Jackson's announcement, in part as a result of Langbehn's story, President Barack Obama issued a memorandum ordering hospitals receiving Medicare and Medicaid funding to allow patients to decide who can visit them and prohibit discrimination, including sexual orientation and gender identity. President Obama also called Ms. Langbehn on the same day, expressing his sorrow for the events. The rule went into effect on January 2011. According to Langbehn, the hospital has not apologized for the denial of visitation.
Read more about this topic: Jackson Memorial Hospital
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