Obama can think of more than one thing at a time.

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Tonight’s news: equality for same-sex couples in hospital visits.

For all hospitals that accept Medicare or Medicaid. In other words, for almost every hospital in the United States.

WASHINGTON – President Obama on Thursday ordered his health secretary to issue new rules aimed at granting hospital visitation rights to same-sex partners, and making it easier for gays and lesbians to make medical decisions on behalf of their partners.

“So what?” you say? He’s just responding to pressure?

Well, that’s our job, isn’t it?

McCain sure wouldn’t have done it.

7 thoughts on “Obama can think of more than one thing at a time.”

  1. Had McCain won (perish the thought), the national climate might be such that Marriage Equality would not have made it through, even in Vermont!  The work is never done.

  2. From the president’s  … memorandum — not an executive order, note.

    Also note that the memorandum initiates rulemaking, which can take many months — yet another way to slow-walk (or creep and crawl) toward human decency for millions of Americans. And we will wait 6 months just for new guidelines to reach the president, and many more months before those guidelines are acted on — if at all.

    Further note the end of the last provision, emphasis added. Although this action may look real good to straight liberals, this is not equality for those of us directly affected, friends. These are crumbs — for which LGBTs in the 38 states which have no protections are grateful. But some of us in Vermont find these tiny particles somehow tasteless and bitterly unsatisfying, like trying to eat smoke.

    1. Initiate appropriate rulemaking, pursuant to your authority under […] relevant provisions of law, to ensure that hospitals that participate in Medicare or Medicaid respect the rights of patients to designate visitors. […] [D]esignated visitors, including individuals designated by legally valid advance directives (such as durable powers of attorney and health care proxies), should enjoy visitation privileges that are no more restrictive than those that immediate family members enjoy. You should also provide that participating hospitals may not deny visitation privileges on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability. […] [emphasis added]

    2. Ensure that all hospitals participating in Medicare or Medicaid are in full compliance with regulations, […] promulgated to guarantee that all patients’ advance directives, such as durable powers of attorney and health care proxies, are respected, and that patients’ representatives otherwise have the right to make informed decisions regarding patients’ care. Additionally, I request that you issue new guidelines, […]

    3. Provide additional recommendations to me, within 180 days of the date of this memorandum, on actions the Department of Health and Human Services can take to address hospital visitation, medical decisionmaking, or other health care issues that affect LGBT patients and their families. This memorandum is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

    That last passage is apparently to make sure there’s no conflict with DOMA.

    NanuqFC

    If we do not step forward, then we step back. If we do not protect a right, then we deny it. Mr. Speaker, together as a nation, together as Canadians, let us step forward. ~ Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin, 2005    [We’re waiting, Mr. President]

  3. and while equal treatment by and under the law is most definitely a part of my progressive agenda, these “gay” rights are neither the beginning nor the end.

    I would have preferred a strong, honest public option in the health insurance bill (okay, first preference to single payer health care system) in place of this visitation deal. That would have done much, much more to providing for the “general welfare”.

    But Obama seems to believe if he meets the narrow needs of only one small group he can spend the rest of his time coddling the pro-corporate war making power structure.

    It’s sad.

  4. Check out Gerry Shih’s report on the NYT’ Bay Area Blogs: Suit Charges Elderly Gay Couple Was Forced Apart By GERRY SHIH http://bayarea.blogs.nytimes.c…

    The Times is running another article citing similar incidents in other hospitals:

    http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/…

    Finally, there’s a ranking of hospitals based on five areas: patient rights, visitation, decision-making, cultural competency training, and employment policies and benefits: http://www.hrc.org/issues/hei…. The HRC site provides a link to the pdf of their report, issued in conjunction with the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association last spring and a new one is expected soon.

    No Vermont hospitals are listed as participating, although this might be background date to consider when traveling.

    NanuqFC

    True equality is the result of a hundred thousand minor actions and interactions. It can be begun with words, but words themselves cannot create equality. ~ Anon.

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