Allows patients to designate a domestic partner with next-of-kin privileges for hospital visitation and surgery authorization.

This bill amends the public health law to require hospital admissions forms to allow patients to designate a domestic partner with the same privileges as a next-of-kin for visitation and surgery authorization. This applies when the patient is unable to execute a health care proxy or make decisions about their health care and has given no specific instructions. The domestic partner's privileges are limited to the same window as a next-of-kin's.

Allows patients to designate a domestic partner with next-of-kin privileges for hospital visitation and surgery authorization.

This bill amends the public health law to require hospital admissions forms to allow patients to designate a domestic partner with the same privileges as a next-of-kin for visitation and surgery authorization. This applies when the patient is unable to execute a health care proxy or make decisions about their health care and has given no specific instructions. The domestic partner's privileges are limited to the same window as a next-of-kin's.