Delaware Code Title 16 Sec. 1014 – Hospital visitation policy
(a) Each hospital shall include in its visitation policy a provision allowing each competent adult patient to receive visits from any individual from whom a patient desires to receive visits, subject to restrictions contained in the visitation policy related to a patient’s medical condition, the number of visitors simultaneously permitted in a patient’s room, and the hospital’s visitation hours, as well as protective orders issued by a court.
Terms Used In Delaware Code Title 16 Sec. 1014
- hospital: means a health-care organization that has a governing body, an organized medical and professional staff, and inpatient facilities, and provides either medical diagnosis, treatment and care, nursing and related services for ill and injured patients, or rehabilitation services for the rehabilitation of ill, injured or disabled patients 24 hours per day, 7 days per week and primarily engaged in providing inpatient services. See Delaware Code Title 16 Sec. 1001
(b) The duties and rights conferred by this section are in addition to, and not in derogation of, duties and rights otherwise conferred by law, including §§ 2508 and 5161 of this title.
(c) Nothing in this chapter shall preclude a hospital from restricting visitations due to:
(1) Attempts to interfere with patient care; or
(2) The presentation of a threat to staff, patients or hospital personnel; or
(3) Actions disruptive to hospital operations; or
(4) Pandemic or infectious disease outbreak.
(d) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, nothing in this section shall be read to overrule any decision of the Delaware Department of Correction.