Kansas City, Stop Violating Gay Couples' Medical Rights
- par: Susan V
- destinataire: Kansas City, Missouri Police Department and Regional Medical Research Center
Allen Mansell and Roger Gorley have been a couple for five years, and each has legal jurisdiction over the other’s medical decisions. So why did police force Roger from his husband’s hospital bedside?
According to Roger’s adult daughter, Amanda, it was police who forced Allen into the hospital in the first place, claiming symptoms of depression caused a danger to himself.
Amanda says she called Roger at work to have him meet Allen where he was being taken against his will - Regional Medical Research Center in Kansas City - which was not his primary hospital. There when Roger arrived were Allen's siblings, who disapprove of the couple’s relationship.
When Allen’s brother Lee insisted Roger leave, the hospital and the police took Lee’s side, ignoring Roger’s legal rights and Allen’s wishes. As Roger resisted, insisting on their rights, the police violently assaulted and arrested him.
Tell Kansas City Police and Regional Medical to stop this outrageous violation of gay couples’ rights.
We, the undersigned, are outraged by the violation of this couple’s legal and human rights.
First of all, forcing someone into a hospital against their will, then sending them to one that is not their preference is violation enough, as well as very traumatizing, especially to someone suffering from depression or other mental conditions. At times like these it is even more essential that that people in distress have the support of those closest to them - those they ask to be with them.
Furthermore, this couple had made prior legal arrangements about whom they wished to be with them and handle their medical decisions. According to Roger’s daughter, Allen had specifically excluded his family from being involved in his medical decisions because of their lack of understanding of his condition.
But Regional Medical and Kansas City Police made it impossible for the one Allen designated to make those decisions to do so. There is no excuse for either the hospital or the police to ignore Roger Gorley’s human rights, as Allen’s husband, or the legal rights Allen granted him.
Both owe Mr. Mansell and Mr. Gorley a public apology at the very least, and we request that both take steps to ensure this never happens again.
Thank you for your time.
