Terri-Ann Simonelli and Brittney Leon checked into Spring Valley Hospital because of complications with Leon’s pregnancy. But when Simonelli began inquiring about her domestic partner’s status, they were informed by the admissions officer that same-sex couples needed power-of-attorney to consult on medical issues.
A 2009 law provides states domestic partners have “the same rights, protections and benefits, and are subject to the same responsibilities, obligations and duties under law, whether derived from statutes, administrative regulations, court rules, government policies, common law or any other provisions or sources of law, as are granted to and imposed upon spouses.”
The women tried to explain that to administrators but were told essentially, “rules are rules.” Sadly, in addition to being kept apart from her partner during this ordeal, Leon lost her baby.
The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports the hospital seems to be standing its ground:
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
A woman who identified herself as public relations representative at Spring Valley Hospital told a Review-Journal reporter in a phone interview that the hospital policy requires gay couples have power of attorney in order to make medical decisions for each other.
When asked if she was aware of Nevada’s domestic partnership law, she accused the reporter of bias and hung up the telephone.”
Maybe the Obama Administration could extend the hospital-visitation policy it announced last year to prevent situations like this?
But they say they hope their tragedy will help the push for fair treatment of LGBT patients: “I am usually a big fighter. But I was so emotionally upset. It was a very bad day for us,” Simonelli tells the Journal. “We went there thinking we had the state’s backing, and then we were told we were wrong. It didn’t matter that we were registered domestic partners. It should matter.”
sweetbrandigirl2004
This is just one example of many out there of why Civil Unions AREN”T the same as Marriage. If these two were legally married there would have been no wiggle room for the hospital and they would have been forced by law to let this couple be together during this very upsetting and emotional event….Damn bigots make me sick ! The sooner President gets re-eleceted the sooner he can push to dismantle DOMA and thus force under threat of loss of federal dollars these states that have constitutional amendments against same sex marriage to remove said amendments.
cam
Hospital Policy is irrelevent when it goes against the law.
If could be hospital policy that every baby born there would be sold into slavery. Guess what, that wouldn’t be legal and therefore the policy is not only irrlelevent but can get them sued.
SO I love these people who try to fall back on “It’s policy”.
Things like this are what the bigots don’t want to admit. Until there is full marriage there will never be equality because you will ALWAYS have places like this hospital.
Larkin
Sue the ass off them!
Macmantoo
Welcome to Nevada. The laws don’t mean anything it redneck republicans.
Jonathonz
Yet another reason why DOMA needs to be struck down and marriage equality needs to be the law of the land.
Pitou
What about the excutive order issued regarding hospitals that receive federal funding, etc.? Would’nt that trump any lack-of protection at the state level? The hospital doesn’t seem to be religion-oriented.. but I can’t imagine they don’t accept Medicare, etc.
This screams of discrimination in the face of the excutive order which was issued to counter this kind of crap..