FL H1253

Patients have the right to bring any person of their choosing to patient-accessible areas of health care facilities or providers' offices while receiving inpatient or outpatient treatment or consulting with their health care provider.

This right may be restricted only if doing so would risk the safety or health of the patient, other patients, or staff, or cannot be reasonably accommodated by the facility or provider.

Health care facilities and providers must include this patient visitation right in their written statement of patient rights and responsibilities provided to patients.

The requirement applies to health care providers who treat patients in offices and to facilities licensed under Florida chapter 395 that provide emergency services, outpatient services, or inpatient care.

The act became effective July 1, 2017.