Rhode Island attorney and Senator Matthew L. LaMountain has just introduced S.B. 2115. This bill would require "all hospitals in Rhode Island shall have a notary public on staff and available twenty-four (24) hours a day and seven (7) days a week."
This is a good idea because many inpatients want or need to complete advance directives and other documents. Yet, these documents require qualified witnesses or notaries who are unavailable.
The problem has been somewhat alleviated in most states by permitting remote notaries and remote witnesses. But having an IRL notary public shall available to "visit the patient in their room during the hospitalization" should help address the persistently low rate of advance directives.
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