End Discrimination at Miami Hospital

Fight OUT Loud ACTION ALERT! End Discrimination at Miami Hospital Fight OUT Loud ACTION ALERT! End Discrimination at Miami Hospital http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http://www.fightoutloud.org%2Factionalerts.html Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami says they don't have to allow their patients visitors Janice Langbehn and Lisa Pond, together 18 years, were about to depart from Miami on a family cruise with their three children, when Lisa suddenly collapsed. From the moment Janice and the children arrived at Jackson Memorial Hospital, they encountered prejudice and apathy. The hospital refused to accept information from Janice regarding Lisa's medical history, informing her that she was in an antigay city and state and that she could expect to receive no information or acknowledgment as family. A doctor finally spoke with Janice, telling her that there was no chance of recovery. Despite the doctor's acknowledgment that no medical reason existed to prevent visitation -- and despite the fact that Janice held a durable healthcare power of attorney for Lisa -- no hospital employee would allow Janice or the couple's children to see Lisa until nearly eight hours after their arrival. Lambda Legal has filed a lawsuit against Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, Florida on behalf of Janice Langbehn and her three children. In its response to the lawsuit, the hospital does not dispute Janice's account of what happened that night. Instead, they claim they did nothing wrong. The Gay and Lesbian Medical Association (GLMA) is appalled by the hospital's positions and, with the support of other gay rights groups, we are establishing the Committee for Fair Visitation at Jackson Memorial Hospital to ensure that what happened to Lisa and her family doesn't continue to happen to other patients at Jackson Memorial. Members of the Committee include Equality Florida, Fight Out Loud, Gay and Lesbian Community Center of South Florida, GLMA, Lambda Legal, Save Dade, and the Fort Lauderdale LGBT Center. The Committee for Fair Visitation at Jackson Memorial Hospital has requested an opportunity to meet with members of the Public Health Trust Board of Trustees in order to discuss these issues. But we also need your help. Our goal is to build a broad coalition of groups and individuals that will help us call on the hospital to change their visitation policies. We want Jackson Memorial to carry out their commitment to quality patient care by adopting a comprehensive visitation policy that: 1. Affirms all patients' rights to have visitors; 2. Includes same sex-partners and their children in its definition of family and does not restrict visitors to biological family members; 3. Outlines a clear process for determining when visitors will be restricted and how that will be communicated; and 4. Includes a grievance procedure that can be acted on quickly in an emergency situation. Here's what you can do: If you live in Miami or anywhere in the state of Florida click here to join the coalition and receive updates about the work of the Committee for Fair Visitation at Jackson Memorial Hospital and learn more about how you can get involved to call on the hospital to change their visitation policies. Also, click here to join the Committee for Fair Visitation at Jackson Memorial Hospital Facebook page. We are also seeking organizations in Florida, as well as nationally, to join the Committee for Fair Visitation at Jackson Memorial Hospital. Click here [PDF] to download a sign-up form to add your organization's name to the Committee for Fair Visitation at Jackson Memorial Hospital. When you complete this form, fax to (415) 255-4784 or email to jbeaudreau@glma.org. Finally, please consider forwarding this message to others who you think would join the Committee for Fair Visitation at Jackson Memorial Hospital. More information about the Committee for Fair Visitation at Jackson Memorial Hospital is available at http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http://www.glma.org%2Fjacksonmemorial. STAND UP. GET INVOLVED. FIGHT OUT LOUD. Waymon Hudson President, Fight OUT Loud -------------------- _ Visit My Social Media Blog http://ronmills.us/ Visit me on twitter http://Twitter.com/RainbowUSA Visit Me On Face Book Profile