Mereidith cited cases in which unmarried, heterosexual partners in their 70s were not allowed to visit or make decisions on medical needs. These unfortunate decisions occur every day. But Ziser, Robert Payant of the Nevada Catholic Conference and others said a new legal relationship is not needed to help these couples. They say simple changes in laws could allow people to designate anyone to visit them in a hospital. They said unmarried couples could secure durable powers of attorney to manage the estate of a sick partner or simply designate the partner as the beneficiary in a will.
Marriage is the basis of our society, one man and one woman in a committed relationship.
Parks, however, said too often couples do not take the time to secure durable power of attorney agreements. His reciprocal beneficiary relationship arrangement is as simple as having a form approved by a notary public. Two ministers also endorsed his bill.