Pelosi Statement on President Obama's Memorandum on Hospital Visitation

Contact: Brendan Daly/Nadeam Elshami/Drew Hammill, 202-226-7616

Washington, D.C. – Speaker Nancy Pelosi released the following statement tonight on President Obama’s signing of a presidential memoranda regarding the visitation rights of hospital patients and the ability to designate surrogate decision makers in the case of emergencies:

"I applaud the President’s decision to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to take steps to ensure that hospitals participating in Medicare or Medicaid respect the rights of patients to receive visitors and designate others to make decisions about medical care in the case of an emergency. The President’s decision sends a strong message and builds upon laws enacted in many states across our nation.

"This is a critical step in ending discrimination against LGBT families and ensuring that, in the event of a hospital stay, all Americans have the right to see their loved ones."