Legal Question in Medical Malpractice in Utah

My boyfriend has been in Africa for a month now. While there he got sick with Malaria on approximately April 30, 2011. Its going on a week since he first got sick and he is getting worse. His family in my opinion is taking too long to decided what to do for him and when to bring him back to the US. He lost his memory and no one seems to know why or how he got sick in the first place. I am here in the US (Utah) and so is his immediate family but because we are not married and his family doesn't approve of our relatiosnhip due to my non religious background they aren't including me in the decision making of his well being and I feel as though it isn't right that they aren't including me becasue I have a child with him and I think I should have some say so as to what happens to him because his family isn't familiar with the American health care system and because of that I don't think they can provide him with the best treatment. With that said my question is what rights do I have as a girlfriend over my boyfriend's health decision?


Asked on 5/08/11, 10:47 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Alvin Lundgren Alvin R. Lundgren, L.C.

You have no rights because you do not have a legal relationship with your boyfriend. That legal relationship is called marriage, and coveys to the wife certain rights and protections. If you are not married, those rights and protections are not available to you.

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Answered on 5/09/11, 1:46 pm


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