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History
- Referred to health
- Referred to health
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Requires patient hospital admissions form allow patient to designate a domestic partner with the same privileges as a next-of-kin respecting authorizing surgery
In Assembly Committee · Health · Sponsor N. Nick Perry
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
BILL NUMBER:S1143
Title of bill
An act to amend the public health law, in relation to patient hospital admissions form and authorization for visitation and surgery to be made by domestic partners
Purpose or general idea of bill
To require hospitals to recognize a domestic partner as a legal relative for such purpose, If the patient indicates on admission data that such person is a domestic partner or next of kin.
Summary of specific provisions
The public health law is amended by adding a new subdivision 6 to read as follows: The staff of a general hospital shall inquire whether or not the person admitted wishes to designate a person as a domestic partner who in the absence and unavailability of a next-of-kin or nearest relative shall have all of the privileges of a next-of-kin respecting visitation and authorization and has given no specific instructions, and becomes unable to execute a health-care proxy or make decisions about his/her health care· The staff shall respect, the wishes of the person admitted respecting such authorization only to the same extent as they would for a person who is the next-of-kin.
Justification
When someone is admitted or receives services from a health care provider, they have to give next of kin information. Hospitals usually request the nearest relative information and recognize the nearest relative as the person who can consent on behalf of the patient in case of the need for emergency.
Some hospitals recognize only a legal relative such as a spouse or children, and will not recognize as next of kin, a girlfriend, boyfriend, or unmarried partner, even though the patient may have lived with that person in a husband or wife capacity. This legislation would enable domestic partners to be recognized by hospitals as next of kin.
Prior legislative history
2010: S.2278 Referred to Health A.3372 Referred to Health 2008: S.1981 Referred to Health A.3976 Referred to Health 2006: S.1176 Referred to Health 2004: S.4269 Referred to Health A.6717 Referred to Health
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the one hundred
twentieth day after it shall have become law, provided, however, that effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rules or regulations necessary for the implementation of the foregoing section of this act on its effective date is authorized and directed to be made and completed on or before such effective date.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.