Baptist Medical Center East of Montgomery is in violation of Alabama House Bill 521, the Harold Sachs Act, which requires all health care facilities in the state of Alabama to set a minimum standard for visitation, even during a public health emergency.
The hospital has repeatedly denied visitation access to Alabama Republican Party Minority Recruitment Director, Cedric Coley, whose mother was admitted by her personal physician this past Friday for non-COVID related kidney failure.
Cassandra Coley – who tested negative for COVID-19 prior to admission – had previously been told by hospital officials she would be allowed visitors. However, they now claim she is COVID positive – despite her being asymptomatic – and are not allowing her any visitation.
“I am my mother’s sole caregiver, she is experiencing a life-threatening medical emergency, and despite repeated requests in-person, by phone, and in email, the hospital still refuses to allow me to see her. I requested a written copy of the policy they keep citing, but no one can provide it to me. I offered to sign a legal document absolving the hospital of liability and wear military grade PPE in order to see her, and was ordered to leave the facility,” said Mr. Coley.
Alabama Republican Party Chairman John Wahl called the situation outrageous.
“No patient or family member should ever be treated in this way. What has happened to the Coleys is a patent violation of state law. We demand hospital administrators allow Mr. Coley to see his mother. This is not a political issue. This is a basic human rights issue.”
HB521/The Harold Sachs Act was passed during the 2021 Regular Legislative Session. It was named in memory of ALGOP’s late Chief-of-Staff, who was not allowed to see his family before passed away from COVID. A copy of the law can be read here.
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