the cruel inequity is real. heart-breaking. and terribly unjust.

The problem I have with the verdict is not the ruling that a hospital has no obligation to allow family members into the trauma unit – that might well be the best decision clinically – but that (based on what I've read) the judge didn't address the question of whether the hospital treats same-sex couple differently from opposite-sex couples.

No obligation to allow family in the trauma unit, sure – but if the data show that (hypothetically) family is allowed to say goodbye to the dying patient 70% of the time in opposite-sex marriages but 5% of the time in same-sex marriages, that's a problem.

Apparently from what I have read the plaintiff alleges:

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 Lisa’s partner or family.

Other than one five minute visit that was arranged 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 – who provided the hospital with a medical Power of Attorney document — nor their children were allowed to see Lisa until nearly eight hours after their arrival.

Has everyone lost sight that it was not the visitation rights that was originally in question, it was the fact that her "medical history" was rejected because they were a gay couple. Had the medical history not been rejected she might have had a chance of living.

Excellent point Tany.

I got that right away. So much for the "culture of life".