OVO

Proud Parenting: Mother and kids denied visitation with dying partner in Florida hospital [LINK-ZUM]

While on a family cruise leaving from Miami - Lisa [Pond] , a healthy 39 year-old, suddenly collapsed [with a brain aneurysm]. She was rushed to Miami's Jackson Memorial Hospital with her partner [of nearly 18 years] Janice [Langbehn] and three children following close behind. There, the hospital refused to accept information from Janice about her partner's medical history. Janice was informed that she was in an antigay city and state, and she could expect to receive no information or acknowledgment as family.

A doctor finally spoke with Janice telling her that there was no chance of recovery. Other than one five minute visit, which was orchestrated by a Catholic priest at Janice's request to perform last rites, and despite the doctor's acknowledgement that no medical reason existed to prevent visitation, neither Janice nor her children were allowed to see Lisa until nearly eight hours after their arrival.

Soon after Lisa's death, Janice tried to get her death certificate in order to get life insurance and Social Security benefits for their children. She was denied both by the State of Florida and the Dade County Medical Examiner.

[Article continues at link. This couple was from Oregon, which recently granted legal recognition to same sex partners. As long as same sex marriage is an issue of state's rights, there are some states that same sex couples should avoid. Florida seems to be one of them. Is there any force under the sun other than mean-spirited superstition enfranchised into law that kept this couple apart in their last possible moments together? - Trevor Blake]

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