Obama orders end to the practice of denying same-sex partners hospital visits
 

http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2010/04/15...gays-lesbians/

Washington (CNN) -- "President Obama has asked the Department of Health and Human Services to establish a rule that would prevent hospitals from denying visitation privileges to gay and lesbian partners."

"Obama requested that the regulation make clear that any hospital receiving Medicare and Medicaid funding, which includes the vast majority of U.S. hospitals, must allow patients to decide who can visit them and prohibit discrimination based on a variety of characteristics, including sexual orientation and gender identity."

Why on earth would the federal government get involved in this?

Because Medicare and Medicaid are federal government programs. So, the federal government has the right to force those who receive those funds to adhere to their policies. The hospital also has the right to say no to the federal government policies by not accepting Medicare and Medicaids.

Welcome to the Obama Dictatorship
 

Regardless of how I feel about denying same-sex partners hospital visits, especially since we're talking about gov't funded programs, I must say this:

Obama's turning out to be a dictator whose legacy will not be what people assumed that it would be. He's simply not as great as people thought he was. He was simply better than what many considered to be the alternative (Obama vs. "dem people").

Some of the biggest dictators and exploitative leaders of the world have been great orators who were able to draw crowds and distract people with their speech.

FAIL.

He's dictating on the side I believe in, so WIN.

I agree. He's telling hospitals that they can't discriminate against their patients. Big Win!

And to DGTess and Dr. Phil-- This rule hurts the hospitals how? Hell, most hospitals will let anyone and their mama into a patient's room. If they are refusing a patient's gay partner...that is discrimination. It is stressful to the patient and is counterproductive to the care of the patient. How would you like to have your loved ones banned from your room when you are at your weakest?

^^This...

Anything within legal and medical reach to help the patient get better must be explored.

Is this really a problem?

I agree, this is how dictatorships are established.

First rule is to legislate things that are good for the people so the people will start giving you that trust.

But hey its not like he is running from an old play book. That was Bush II and the Patriot act.

The problem is people are so polarized by 24 hour news cycles they don't realize that both the right and the left are moving closer and closer to being ruled by the fringe.

At the same time though since it is my tax dollars and I agree with this stance if a hospital is receiving my tax dollars they should adhere to what I believe in. Just like on the other side, I don't want my tax dollars funding abortions.

I'm failing to see how this is a dictatorship in the making.

I mean this happening after years of having administrations that wouldn't even let same sex partners even manage each others' insurance or be exexutors of their care, segregated hospitals, even denying interracil couples the right to visit their sick loved ones.

So, someone please explain to me how this anti discrimination step is a bad move?

I'm pretty sure Hitler made a similar decree at some point.

But really... I ask again. Was this even really a problem? Are we now just scoring free points with key constituencies?

I don't know whether this is a problem. I live in the buckle of the Bible Belt, have quite a few gay friends and have never heard of anything like this happening here.

I really have zero problem with this rule as a matter of course, but does the President even have the power to do this? Isn't the spending power solely under Congress' control?

I guess to find out, we'll have to have a hospital who really wants to keep gay partners apart and is willing to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to protect their right to do so.

I don't see this as a problem but then on the other hand Virginia just rolled back Civil Rights for homosexuals.

Unrelated, I know, but it just goes to show some people have certain disregard when this comes into question

The 7 Commandments of Animalism.

The seventh and most important being, All animals are equal.

- George Orwell's Animal Farm.

I know personally I always raise an eyebrow when the government tries to legislate morality. Does that mean that it will cause the rise of the Anti-Christ and many years of sorrow? No I doubt it because our government currently has a lot of check and balances to prevent it. Doesn't mean it isn't impossible though, so I will raise an eyebrow and always question, "Why do you feel it is necessary to force this issue." Even if on the surface it is a good thing and something I agree with.

I've never heard of the hospital preventing someone from seeing his/her same sex partner. Usually it's a next-of-kin, like a homophobic parent or jealous child from a previous heterosexual relationship, who's raising hell.

I have never heard of it happening either. Hospitals have long since relaxed their policies about visitation. I thought the only stringent requirements they had related to whether visitors are sick and may spread disease to the patient.