A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT PERTAINING TO HOSPITAL VISITATION POLICY.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  Chapter 131E of the General Statutes is amended by adding the following new Part to read:
"Part 5A. Miscellaneous Provisions.
"§ 131E‑99.5. Hospital visitation.
A hospital patient at any health service facility as defined in G.S. 131E‑176(9b) who is 18 years of age or older or an emancipated minor may designate at any time, orally or in writing, individuals not legally related by marriage or blood to the patient and whom the patient wishes to be given the same visitation privileges as an immediate family member of the patient. The patient may rescind the designation at any time, orally or in writing. Any designation or rescission made under this section shall be noted in the patient's medical records at the hospital. For the purposes of this section, 'medical record' means the hospital's record of a patient's health history and treatment rendered."
SECTION 2.  This act is effective when it becomes law.