Support medical rights and protect patient access to loved ones!

Massachusetts bills H.2559 and S.1520 would protect the rights of patients and residents in health care facilities by allowing them to designate a 24/7 support person, without requiring that person to be vaccinated.

These bills affirm the basic human right of patients to choose a trusted support person who can remain by their side while they receive medical care in hospitals, nursing homes, mental health wards, veterans’ homes, and other care facilities.

Critically, these bills prohibit facilities from requiring vaccination as a condition of access for the support person.

These bills were introduced on February 27, 2025, and referred to the Joint Committee on Public Health. H.2559 is sponsored by Representative Marcus S. Vaughn and S.1520 is sponsored by Senator Peter J. Durant.

Please help these important bills today!

TAKE ACTION:

Contact your Massachusetts State Representative and Senator and ask them to SUPPORT H.2559 and S.1520.

You can find your legislators here:
https://malegislature.gov/Search/FindMyLegislator

Calls are more effective than emails and only take a few minutes.

Sample script:
“Hi, my name is ____, and I am a constituent. I am calling to ask Representative/Senator ____ to SUPPORT H.2559 and S.1520.

These bills affirm a patient’s right to choose a support person and ensure that no one is denied access to their loved one simply because of vaccination status.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, far too many people were isolated in hospitals and care facilities, often dying without the presence of family or support. These bills would prevent such cruelty from happening again. They would also help ensure that patients have access to a health advocate, allowing for better decision-making and care.

Please support these common-sense bills that uphold medical rights, human dignity, and the freedom to be with our loved ones during times of crisis.”

Be sure to explain why this issue is important to you. You may wish to use a couple of the talking points below. Don’t copy all of them – just use them as ideas to help structure your own message.

TALKING POINTS for calls and emails:

These bills restore basic human rights — the right to have a loved one by your side during medical treatment or end-of-life care.

Denying patients access to their chosen support person based on vaccination status is a form of medical discrimination.

During the Covid-19 lockdowns, many patients in hospitals and nursing homes were left isolated and alone — leading to devastating physical and psychological harm. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11817412/

Being separated from loved ones during a hospital stay increases anxiety, impairs communication with providers, and can delay healing.

Patients and residents in vulnerable settings — including veterans’ homes and mental health institutions — should never be cut off from their support system because of vaccination status.

These bills do not prevent facilities from limiting access to support persons during emergencies or surgery, but they do protect the fundamental right of presence and personal choice.