Senate Unanimously Passes Legislation to Prevent Patients Dying Alone
Image Credit: Deposit Photos / Author: ZaraMuzafarova
The Tennessee Conservative [By Jason Vaughn] –
A bill that would prevent patients from being left alone to die in facilities has unanimously passed through both legislative chambers.
The Senate substituted House Bill 2665, sponsored by House Speaker Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville-District 25), in place of Senate Bill 2449 on April 27. It was passed with a vote of 28-0 in favor of the legislation.
On April 28, HB2665 appeared on the House Message Calendar. House members concurred with Senate Amendment number 2 and then passed the bill with 84 ayes and no nays. The bill had previously passed the House unanimously with a vote of 92-0.
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The new legislation stipulates that, during times when COVID-19 is a healthcare concern, hospitals and other care facilities cannot restrict an individual from having at least one family member present as long as that family member does not test positive for COVID-19 and is not showing symptoms of COVID or any other communicable disease.
The bill defines “family member” as a spouse, parent, grandparent, stepmother, stepfather, child, grandchild, brother, sister, half-brother, half-sister, adopted child, or spouse’s parent. And “patient representative” means a family member or another individual, chosen by the patient, to act on their behalf in order to support the patient in decision-making; access medical, social, or other personal information for or from the hospital; manage financial matters; or receive notifications.
Amendment number 2 removes a loophole that some feared would allow over-prescription of opioids during a time when COVID-19 is a concern.
About the Author: Jason Vaughn, Media Coordinator for The Tennessee Conservative ~ Jason previously worked for a legacy publishing company based in Crossville, TN in a variety of roles through his career. Most recently, he served as Deputy Director for their flagship publication. Prior, he was a freelance journalist writing articles that appeared in the Herald Citizen, the Crossville Chronicle and The Oracle among others. He graduated from Tennessee Technological University with a Bachelor’s in English-Journalism, with minors in Broadcast Journalism and History. Contact Jason at news@TennesseeConservativeNews.com
I believe another caveat is that it not violate other hospital “guidelines” which are NIH guidelines. I do not believe this helps anything. The operative words are “dying” meaning that has already been determined. Most probably because the patient has been subjected to NIH protocols like Remdesivir. This bill limits rights given in the Omnibus bill 9077 which did not require the patient to be “dying” but assured a patient family member present at all times while in hospital. This bill is deceitful.