A. A hospital shall develop a visitation policy that allows a patient to have daily in-person visitation by a designated visitor of the patient’s choice, which may include the patient’s spouse or one parent or child of the patient. A hospital’s policies regarding visitation shall ensure that the patient and the patient’s visitors may have physical contact, especially during end-of-life visitation, unless a physician determines based on the patient’s condition that the visitation does not meet health and safety standards or is reasonably likely to harm the patient. If a physician denies visitation with a patient pursuant to this section, the patient or the patient’s representative, which may include the patient’s spouse, parent or child, may request a meeting, as provided by the visitation policy, with the physician and the hospital’s chief medical officer, chief of staff or chief executive officer to receive a review and explanation within twenty-four hours of the physician’s decision to deny visitation. If the designated visitor’s request to visit is denied or not resolved at the meeting, the visitor may file a complaint with the department. All visitors must comply with reasonable health and safety precautions imposed by the hospital in connection with the visit.

Terms Used In Arizona Laws 36-407.03

  • Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
  • Department: means the department of health services. See Arizona Laws 36-401
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Physician: means any person who is licensed pursuant to Title 32, Chapter 13 or 17. See Arizona Laws 36-401

B. This section does not apply to the Arizona state hospital, any other licensed facility under the jurisdiction of the superintendent of the Arizona state hospital or chapter 5 of this title.