Opponents of gay marriage — and even gay “civil union” — argue that it’s all unnecessary because, well, if they really want to have all those protections and rights that straight married couples get automatically and by force of law, then they can go to a lawyer and get nearly everything all handled that way. Never mind that such documentation can cost thousands of dollars, that’s just a “minor inconvenience” vs. the Inutterable Horror that Would Be Unleashed upon Society if Gays Got to Be Married.
Except all that paperwork? Well, it doesn’t appear to actually mean anything to some folks.
As her partner of 17 years slipped into a coma, Janice Langbehn pleaded with doctors and anyone who would listen to let her into the woman’s hospital room.
Eight anguishing hours passed before Langbehn would be allowed into Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Ryder Trauma Center. By then, she could only say her final farewell as a priest performed the last rites on 39-year-old Lisa Marie Pond.
Jackson staffers advised Langbehn that she could not see Pond earlier because the hospital’s visitation policy in cases of emergency was limited to immediate family and spouses — not partners. In Florida, same-sex marriages or partnerships are not recognized.
[…] At Friday’s hearing, Langbehn’s lawyers argued the case should be tried because Langbehn had the proper documentation to make medical decisions on behalf of her partner, and was not consulted about Pond’s condition for hours despite seeking answers every 20 minutes.
[…] Though Langbehn had documents declaring her Pond’s legal guardian and giving her the medical ”power of attorney,” Jackson officials refused to recognize her or the kids as family.
She had the paper work. She had all the docs she was “supposed” to have to allow this. But the hospital decided to ignore it.
Jackson attorneys filed a motion to dismiss the case on grounds that the hospital has no obligation to allow patients’ visitors.
Right. Never mind that straight couple are given such access, and consulted in such decisions all the time. Mere coincidence.
I hope suit she’s filed goes forward, and she gets a million zillion dollars from it. And I hope every yahoo out there who pretends that all that (expensive) legal paperwork has the same legal force as two teenagers filling out a form in front of a justice of the peace will remember the case of Janice Langbehn and Lisa Marie Pond.
(via Les and Ed Brayton)