Two Republican Ohio lawmakers have introduced a bill into the Ohio House of Representatives to ensure every patient’s right to a healthcare advocate at a hospital or care facility.
House Bill (HB) 236, known as The Never Alone Act, sponsored by State Representatives Melanie Miller (R-City of Ashland) and Beth Lear (R-Galena), looks to protect patient’s rights to have access to a loved one or individual who can advocate for their health during their stay at a medical facility.
According to Miller, they introduced the bill after learning from the COVID-19 pandemic when Ohioans went through isolation from loved ones due to an overabundance of caution.
“Over the last three years, we have gained a heightened awareness of the need for legislation that protects the right of a patient to have access to a loved one or advocate to act on behalf of their best interest while in a hospital or care facility. Staffing shortages and severe inpatient facility visitation protocols left thousands of Ohioans without the attention they desperately needed and even worse, many saw the end of their life in a cold empty room without a familiar voice or hand to hold,” Miller said.
The legislation aims to create a right for patients and long-term care residents to have access to an advocate of their choosing so that a loved one can accompany them can advocate for their health needs. It also looks to require care facilities to provide patients and residents with information on their right to select an advocate and to have the advocate with them in the care setting. The bill attempts to protect the rights and interests of patients with the health and safety concerns of the care facilities by ensuring that patients have access to loved ones and relieves care facilities from risk and liabilities associated with exposure.
According to Lear, this is a necessary bill to ensure what happened to people during COVID never happens again.
“Our grandparents, spouses, loved ones and children should never be left alone to suffer. We cannot give up our compassion and humanity in the name of fear. I’m so grateful to share sponsorship of this important bill with Rep. Melanie Miller and look forward to helping navigate it through the committee process to the Governor’s desk,” Lear said.
According to Miller, this is critical legislation as every Ohioan deserves to have access to a loved one during times of need.
“We believe that no Ohioan should have to face hospitalization or death alone. ‘The Never Alone Act’ will finally ensure that every inpatient Ohioan will be allowed access to someone who can advocate for their health and also be the hand they hold when they take their final breath. Every one of us deserves the comfort of a loved one during times of need and at the end of life,” Miller said.
The lawmakers introduced the legislation into the Ohio House, which is awaiting committee assignment.
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Hannah Poling is a lead reporter at The Ohio Star, The Star News Network, and The Arizona Sun Times. Follow Hannah on Twitter @HannahPoling1. Email tips to [email protected]
Editor’s Note: Beth Lear was a journalist with The Ohio Star from May 2019 to December 2019.
