Topic: just found out my girlfriend may have breast cancer

She can name you as someone in which they have permission to share information with on the intake forms.

Also, sometimes hospitals will ask for "contact" or "next of kin" information when a patient is checking in. If your girlfriend lists you as that person, then you should have no trouble getting information and seeing her. Most hospitals are fairly open these days, as sbmolee says.

My gf recently had spinal surgery, and we had a gerat experience in a small town hospital. She had me down as the contact, and the surgeon gave me the update afterwards (and called me her family in his op notes!). The staff had no issue with our relationship--they would ask who I was before discussing things with her, but that was simply a privacy thing. One of the aides even came running down the hall to tell us about the California marriage act (this was the day it was passed). Of course, she's pretty estranged from her family (in contact but rarely sees any of them, none of them bothered to show up or call around her surgery, etc.), so they're not an issue for us.

For me, lviing in Canada has been a blessing--they cannot discriminate, and no one has. My onc was thrown off a bit when he realised my partner was another woman, but carried on very professionally and didn't give us any hassles, aside from a sideways glance when we held hands. Others--surgeon, residents, nurses, aides, clerks, social workers, everyone--has been great.

It's a concern we shouldn't have to worry about, but such is life...

I hope you don't have to worry about any of this--hugs to you both!