Ark. Code Ann. § 20-6-402: Legislative findings

The General Assembly finds that:

(1) The coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused great uncertainty and anxiety across the state and has significantly affected the medical community, including hospitals;

(2) Healthcare facilities have made many efforts to maintain a safe environment for patients and employees and have worked to minimize, to the extent possible, the risk of spread of coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19);

(3) There have been unintended consequences of these preventative measures for patients who have not been diagnosed with coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19);

(4) Across the state, patients who have not been diagnosed with coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) have been prohibited from having any visitors;

(5) As a result, many patients who were not diagnosed with coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) have been required to be alone during their treatment for serious conditions, traumas, illnesses, and routine and emergency surgeries;

(6) Some of these patients have been required to be alone for the entire course of their treatment and in some cases have died alone;

(7) Many families have been unable to be physically present with their loved ones who are being treated in a healthcare facility and have been limited to electronic video communications, if any, with their loved ones; and

(8) It is in the interest of the state and its citizens that a patient be allowed at least one (1) support person who is permitted to be physically present with the patient on a daily basis at reasonable times throughout his or her hospitalization, visit to the office of a healthcare professional, or institutionalization.