Photo: Alamy
Gov. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla., signed SB 988 into law on Thursday, better known as the “No Patient Left Alone Act,” which protects patients’ rights and allows them to have companionship in the hospital amidst Covid-related restrictions and rules.
According to a report from Florida Politics, the bill requires health care providers to meet the minimum visitation rights of patients, and they will be required to update their guidelines within the next 30 days.
In a comment posted on Twitter, Gov. DeSantis decried the “destructive” impact that separating patients from their families have had amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Many Americans, for example, have been unable to be at their loved ones’ side when they have been sick or dying due to strict quarantine policies implemented by hospitals.
“No one should be denied the choice to have family present in the hospital,” Gov. DeSantis continued. “Today, I signed the No Patient Left Alone Act into law to protect the right of Floridians to have companionship when hospitalized. Floridians will be able to visit their loved ones when it matters most.”
Additionally, Florida Politics reports that the bill will bar hospitals from asking visitors for proof of vaccination to visit patients.
“If you are hospitalized or in a long-term care facility, you have the right to have your family members present with you. And we have to stand up and say that,” DeSantis stated while signing the bill.
Gov. DeSantis has been a staunch champion of individual liberty in the Sunshine State over the last two years. He has been historically unafraid to go toe-to-toe with the federal government on immigration and coronavirus-related policy issues.
His latest move to protect the rights of patients and their families will likely win him even more popularity with potential Floridian voters in the 2022 Florida gubernatorial reelection in November.