An Eastern Wisconsin legislator’s bill aimed at helping medical patients is receiving bipartisan support.
The No Patients Left Alone Act, written by Senator Andre Jacque of De Pere along with Representative Chuck Wichgers of Muskego, would ensure that patients in hospitals will “never be isolated from their families and friends.”
The measure was born in the aftermath of the COVID pandemic when the number of guests a person could have was limited by hospitals.
Sen. Jacque notes that “Scientific papers indicate that, despite the availability of virtual visits, restricting in-person visitors during the pandemic negatively impacted patient health in many ways, including more pain and suffering and poor nutrition, but no research can fully measure the sheer emotional cruelty inflicted on families by these restrictions.”
The No Patient Left Alone Act passed the Senate Committee on Health Thursday morning (December 7th) on a bipartisan 5-1 vote.
It must next clear the full Senate and Assembly before going to going to the Governor’s desk for final approval.
