Mississippi Senate Bill SB2845

Mississippi 2022 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/17/22
• Refer: 1/17/22
• Failed: 2/1/22

Caption

Right to Visit Act; create.

Impact

The act allows healthcare facilities to impose reasonable safety measures as needed but ensures that at least two designated visitors must be permitted for a minimum of two hours each day. This balance seeks to respect the rights of patients while ensuring necessary health protocols are followed. Another crucial aspect of the bill is the liability protection it offers to healthcare facilities; they cannot be held liable for compliance with the act in liability claims arising from visitation-related issues. This immunity provision is intended to ease concerns for facilities about the legal repercussions of permitting visitation, especially in sensitive situations.

Summary

Senate Bill 2845, known as the 'Right to Visit Act', aims to establish regulations regarding patient visitation in various healthcare facilities across Mississippi. The bill stipulates that facilities that have received a certificate of need from the Department of Health cannot implement any policies that restrict patients' abilities to be visited by designated family members or friends during periods of hospitalization or treatment extending beyond 24 hours. This provision applies even during declared public health emergencies, the intention being to safeguard the emotional and social well-being of patients during their healthcare journey.

Contention

While supporters argue that the bill reinforces the rights and needs of patients during their treatment, there could be contention regarding the practical implementation of such visitation policies amidst health crises. Critics may highlight concerns about the potential for overwhelmed facilities during public health emergencies, indicating that allowing unrestricted visitation might complicate management efforts and endanger staff and other patients. The balance between patient rights and safety becomes a significant point of discussion, particularly given the complexities of health emergencies and the varying capacities of facilities across the state.