Reply #130: that's what health proxys are for. but that requires forethought.

[ejpoeta]

I mean, when my dad got sick, were my family a bunch of jerks then they could have kept his girlfriend out of the hospital and overruled her were she inclined to make decisions for him. They were together for like 20 years! I thought about that as we sat in the hospital. How glad I was that my family treated Midge as dad's partner and with the respect she deserved. I mean, my dad had set my two sisters up as his health proxies when he was sick before. But how many couples, gay and straight, have families who do not like the other person and could swoop in and take over and not even let the person in the room! IT does require forethought.... and if we are healthy we don't always think about what ifs like that. I hope this rule helps with those situations.