Senate File No. 83, known as the "No Patient Left Alone Act," is a bill introduced in Minnesota aiming to guarantee patients and residents in healthcare settings the right to have a support person of their choice present during their care. This legislation mandates that healthcare providers must allow at least one designated support person to accompany a patient, with certain conditions. This support person could be anyone significant for the patient's mental, physical, or spiritual well-being, such as family members, religious advisors, or even a barber or hairdresser.

The bill requires providers to inform patients and support persons about their rights and any applicable restrictions clearly through written policies. It emphasizes flexibility in visitation, including access during evenings, weekends, and end-of-life situations, regardless of pandemic conditions, ensuring compassionate care availability.

Healthcare providers are prohibited from setting unreasonable restrictions on the presence of support persons but are allowed specific exemptions such as barring support persons from operating rooms or during emergency care, among other sensitive scenarios.

Violations of these rules by healthcare providers can result in penalties, and providers are generally protected from liabilities arising from allowing support persons unless dictated otherwise by federal regulations. The rights conveyed by this bill are intended to remain unaffected even during state emergencies declared by governmental authorities.