COVID is surging again which is causing hospitals to once again block caregiver access to patients admitted to hospitals. Patients need family representation for medical care advocacy. Patients recover better when supported by a loved one.  Nurses should not be expected with everything else they are doing to be with a dying person in place of a loved one. The ramifications for PTSD long after this scourge is gone will be immense. 

People are dying at home for curable things for fear of being in a hospital alone and dying alone. Treatment is being delayed leading to serious complications that lead to more time by that person taking up a bed when they must seek medical care. 

Nurses and doctors are exposed to COVID on a regular basis and are still coming to work due to the staffing shortage.  PPE protects them and the patients.  It is acceptable to have rules such as masks at all times and only one assigned caregiver per patient. It is not acceptable to say no caregiver.

With enough signatures we can get this to Governor Holcomb and ask him to do the right thing and require hospitals to allow one caregiver.  We must not let the fear of this virus strip human dignity and important aspects of care from sick and dying patients.