McHenry Times

State Sen. Dan McConchie's (R-Hawthorn Woods) new campaign ad features a Lake County resident who shared her experience of not being able to visit her grandfather in the hospital during the pandemic. She thanks McConchie for working on her behalf to pass SB 1405, a bill guaranteeing hospital visitation rights.

"As your State Senator I have one priority - deliver for my constituents. Vote for Dan McConchie on Nov. 8th to ensure your voice is heard!" McConchie posted on Facebook.

"When my grandfather got Covid and ended up in the hospital, he was all alone," Kellie Sheridan says in the ad. "In his final moments, my grandfather deserved family by his side. We called everyone for help. Only one person took action: Dan McConchie. Dan cared. He spent hours texting, calling. Dan brought together leaders in both parties to ensure this never happens again. Thank you, Dan McConchie. You made a difference."

McConchie was the primary sponsor of SB 1405, which amended the Medical Patient Rights Act, removing language that gave total power to health care facilities to regulate and restrict hours of visitation or the number of visitors per patient.

Senate Bill 1405 requires nursing homes and other health care facilities to allow residents or patients to have at least one visitor in the event of public health emergencies in Illinois. A member of the clergy would not count as the one visitor. Visitors could be subject to health screenings prior to entering the health care facility.

Rep. Dan Ugaste (R-St. Charles) spoke to the Illinois House in support of the bill in April, describing the devastation his wife experienced because she wasn't able to be with her mother for more than three months prior to her mother passing away, according to the Kane County Reporter. "If you had any idea - any idea - what that does to an individual - as I've watched my wife go through this for the past two years since her mother passed away - you would vote for this bill," Ugaste said. "Because that is inhumane, in and of itself. It's not about governors' powers, it's not about executive authority."