Unwed couples gain access, aid rights during illness

[Judi Lynn]

Unwed couples gain access, aid rights during illness
By Pat Beall

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Tuesday, February 01, 2005

WEST PALM BEACH — It isn't marriage. But if your partner is sick in West Palm Beach, the Domestic Partner Registry will ensure you a place at his or her bedside, and a voice in the treatment.

City commissioners Monday unanimously approved the registry. Once it is enacted, unmarried couples who file with the city will have the legal right to visit hospitalized partners, be named as each other's pre-need guardians and make treatment and funeral decisions.
(snip)

While the registry is expected to be welcomed by West Palm's active gay and lesbian community, it applies to couples of all sexual orientations, said Mayor Lois Frankel. "I think it is important for folks to know that this is not only for the benefit of same-sex relationships, but for those of the opposite sex. We have many older citizens who live together."
(snip/...)

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/localnews/content/local_news/epaper/2005/02/01/s1b_registry_0201.html

[NYC]

1. That's a step in the right direction.

Fortunately, in New York, hospitals tend to be opemminded about who shows up at the hospital.

[MADem]

2. GEEZERS LEAD THE WAY!!!

Bless 'em...a lot of times, they get divorced but continue to live together...works out better for them in the Social Security/social services sphere. And a lot of times they just don't marry because the adult kids would have a shitfit.

Whatever--so long as there's a constituency for the measure, and people eventually realize the sky won't fall, maybe there will be hope for red state Florida one day....

[no_hypocrisy]

3. If unmarried couples have a legal and medical power of attorney,

can a partner STILL be denied access in a medical emergency or otherwise?

[donco6]

4. They could be

It's not enough to SAY you have it. If it's disputed, there'd have to be a hearing of some kind - which could be too late in an emergency.

My partner and I, however, have never had any question about being able to see each other in the hospital or emergency room here in Colorado. Maybe other parts of the country or pockets of particularly RW nastiness might see something.