Leppotone

I don't understand why HIPA rules can't extend to all couples.  Say, like, if you can provide any sort of evidence like "Look, we own this house together" or "Look, we're raising these kids together" or....can't there just be a document that people can sign to say "YES--in the event that something happens to me, THIS PERSON is my 'spouse'."  STUPID.

I think the key here is to get notarized documents outlining power of attorney (called 'advance directives').  It sounded in that story like some crackers wanted to give the lesbos a hard time but I bet if there had been some documentation outlining legal responsibility in case of emergency it might have been different. 

Or predict your own illness / death is the crappy set-up for a lot of these situations. So if you'd known you were going to be sick or die, you could have set up the paperwork in advance, right? Depressing and no fun, it's true. We're all going to die. Someday.

Remember that HIPPA is mostly about insurance portability (it's the IP of HIPPA!), and that the privacy stuff within is kind of weak. Privacy laws in Michigan are pretty strong, however, but very traditionally structured. Spouse is next of kin, for example, children are not.

-signing off,

Boring Policy Wonk.