No Patient Left Alone Bill is vital to Missourians' freedoms

By K.D. MICHAELS, Staff Writer

On June 30, Missouri Governor Mike Parson signed House Bill 2611, known as No Patient Left Alone, creating visitation standards for hospitals, nursing homes and hospice facilities, and allowing the residents of such establishments to have in-person contact with a compassionate care visitor during visiting hours.

The Bill, designed to protect the rights of patients by allowing their loved ones to be present during their stay at a hospital or long-term care facility is a very important piece of legislation to State Representative Brian Seitz.

In December of 2021, Seitz prefiled House Bill 2097, which eventually became a part of House Bill 2116.

“Passing any Bill is an arduous process, especially one of this magnitude,” Seitz explained. “I introduced House Bill 2097 on January 19 in the Downsizing State Government Committee. It passed out of Executive Session on February 16. While in that process, in meeting with three fellow legislators, we determined that our bills were of similar opinion, and we began the effort to combine them, while each retaining authorship, an unusual move in the House of Representatives. We began to meet as a group, and with help from the Speaker’s and Floor Leader’s office, began to craft legislation that would eventually become part of HB 2116, while also retaining our original bill numbers.”

Seitz continued, “I campaigned on the twin pillars of freedom and liberty, and, at the beginning of the pandemic, against Covid tyranny. Government, hospitals and long-term care facilities, etc., were given unprecedented, and I would suggest, unconstitutional powers.”

The stories told were numerous throughout the United States, in Missouri, and in our local area, of loved ones who were not allowed to visit or to serve as an advocate for those who were hospitalized or in a nursing home. Even locally, family members were forced to stand at the window and wave to the patient—often scared and confused—inside, unable to offer the comfort of holding a hand or sharing a hug. In some instances, patients were given less than adequate care, not only because of staffing issues, but also because the patient’s family was not allowed access to the patient.

One such local family stood near the window of a local, long-term facility during the last days of their loved one’s life, unable to go inside the facility due to the pandemic, and not allowed the opportunity to say their goodbyes.

“There was no contact,” said the patient’s daughter. “We couldn’t hold his hand or just sit beside him. He needed to feel us there. And, we needed to be there for him, but it was not allowed.”

For other families, those with loved ones who did eventually recover, there was constant concern over the level of care and attention the patient was receiving while in the facility that made them wait outside.

Said Seitz, “Biblically, ‘A merry heart doeth good like a medicine.’ Depression became the norm for many, as mankind was created to be social in nature. A simple touch, a cup of water, and being shown that someone cares is essential in healing. I do not blame the overworked staff. I blame the administrators and the bureaucrats for the bad decisions that affected patients and their families.”

In the opinion of Representative Seitz, the No Patient Left Alone Bill, a bill protecting the citizens’ rights to make their own decisions about their personal healthcare, should have moved quickly through the Missouri House and Senate. But, that was not the case.

“Sadly, it took months of arguing and compromise due to the influence of Missouri’s fourth branch of government, special interest groups,” said Seitz. “Lobbyists and lawyers made their presence known at every step of the process. God has given me the tenacity to fight back against undue influence in the House of Representatives, and it’s even worse in the Senate. Common sense legislation is often stifled or held hostage to the whims of big business and lobby groups. This should not be. We are the elected representatives, put there to do the will of the people, not special interests.”

Seitz added, “I am pleased that the governor signed the legislation, but there is more to do in securing freedoms for Missourians.”