If you are Shomer Shabbos, and stuck in New Jersey hospital over Shabbos, you will not be required to sign any paperwork – thanks to (Frum) Assemblyman Gary Schaer.
Two religious accommodation bills Assemblyman Gary S. Schaer championed to protect the sincerely held religious beliefs, observances, and practices of New Jersey residents were signed into law a week ago by Governor Jon S. Corzine.
“Religious freedom has always been one of America’s core values and these bills reflect and build upon that time-honored tradition,” said Schaer (D-Passaic).
One bill (A-3517/S-2377) will prevent hospitals and other health care facilities from requiring patients or their family members to sign admission papers on Shabbos or Yom Tov.
Schaer noted that the bill affecting nursing homes will amend the Nursing Home Bill of Rights first enacted in 1976 to protect the rights of nursing homes residents. Provisions of this law include proper documentation of personal belongings, accommodation for religious observances, protection against various discriminations and protection from undue physical duress. The intent of the measure is to ensure that all nursing home residents have their religious beliefs respected and upheld when residing in a nursing home.
This law will take effect immediately.
A second religious accommodation measure (A-3513/S-2489) will mandate alternate testing dates for days when tests for government-issued professional licenses conflict with days of religious observance. This new law will take effect in 6 months.
The laws are part of a package of seven religious accommodation bills that Schaer has crafted to protect the sincerely held religious beliefs, observances, and practices of New Jersey residents at schools, in employment, and at public facilities such as hospitals.
“As a nation that draws strength from its rich diversity, these measures will help to protect expression of faith and belief,” said Schaer.
Schaer is seeking to have as many as five of the seven legislative proposals signed into law by early 2008.
Assemblyman Gary S. Schaer who is Shomer Shabbos (as reported HERE on YW) represents the 36th Legislative District which includes Carlstadt, East Rutherford, Garfield, Lyndhurst, Moonachie, North Arlington, Nutley, Passaic, Rutherford, Wallington and Wood-Ridge.
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12 Responses
A true Kiddush Hashem. Gary is a special person.
Thank you Gary for all your wonderful work and for your concern to the jewish population of Passaic and beyond
There is another point.
Since the person writing all this for you upon admission is specifically writing this for you, It is not clear if one can even give them the information they request with a pen in their hands.
Oh sure, if it is sakonos nefoshos, no problem, But, a giving a long list of details, like insurance company, address, next of kin, favorite movies, etc., have nothing to do with the actual healing.
So having the goy write while you dictate, MAY be a problem of Amira L’Nochry.
That is why some people when they are pregnant, go in and pre-register so all they need to do is walk in, give their names, and that is it.
It would be nice to see a law that would allow a frum person to be treated in the ER without doing having to dictate a bunch of unnecessary information which the nochri writes.
Of course, I have NO idea how to solve this one.
If only NJ could/would do something about their Blue Laws, and open the stores along routes 4 and 17 on Sunday….
Beware, even in NY where it is already law, hospitals (Lutheran for example) can give you a very very hard time. If the head ER nurse gives a fight, find a frum anybody. If you are in NJ where there is nobody frum, good luck, law or no law.
My recollection was that you never had to sign anything on Shabbos anyway.
Number 2:
I think that might be true for the hospitals that are used frequently by many frum people. They are accomodating.
Thank you Mr. Schaer and …. Good Shabbos.
I’ve been to the hospitol in NJ in the past and on Shabbos, and I wasn’t bothered when I told them I can’t sign. Neither was anyone really offended by my statement either. They reacted as any other normal person would, “Ok”.
And what happened until now if a Yid, admitted to a hospital on Shabbos, would not sign?
#5: “If you are in NJ where there is nobody frum, good luck, law or no law.”
WHAT are you talking about?!?!?
a completely unnecessary comment!
I have relative who gave birth in a New Jersey hospital on a Friday. Yomtov was on Sunday and they forced her to leave on yomtov. Maybe something could also be done about that.
now if only something c/d be done about high taxes in passaic