Plant-based (vegan) mandate for NY hospitals

14 hours ago, Emergent said:

According to my cousin,  plant-based doesn't use oils. She's a fanatic about it. She won't even use olive oil on a salad. 

Does she realize that olive oil comes from a tree and not a cow? 

On 12/14/2019 at 11:41 AM, Emergent said:

What do you think of the new bill passed in New York State requiring vegan options on the menu? 

It does appear to be a political endorsement of this diet over others, such as paleo, which had benefited many as well. While I definitely favor choice for patients, this law is promoting a plant-based as superior. 

Also, whenever government imposes another mandate,  it creates an expensive bureaucracy and burdensome red tape.

https://www.news-medical.net/news/20191209/New-Yorks-landmark-bill-guarantees-healthful-plant-based-meals-to-hospital-patients.aspx

 

I read the article, couldn't find it.

Then, I read the bill.  Still couldn't find it.

Where is the political endorsement of a diet?  I am pretty sure there are a multitude of health related organizations that would endorse this diet, but I can't find anything in the bill I would call a political endorsement.

And, yes, it sometimes takes expensive bureaucracy and burdensome red tape to get people to do stuff.  Think of all the bureaucracy that went into banning smoking in hospitals.

AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to offering plant- based food options in hospitals THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM- BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. The public health law is amended by adding a new section 2827 to read as follows: § 2827. PLANT-BASED FOOD OPTIONS. 1. UPON REQUEST BY A PATIENT OR THE PATIENT'S LAWFUL REPRESENTATIVE IN A HOSPITAL PROVIDING INPATIENT OR RESIDENTIAL CARE, THE HOSPITAL SHALL OFFER THE PATIENT A PLANT-BASED FOOD OPTION AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO EVERY MEAL OR SNACK OFFERED IN FOOD SERVICE TO THE PATIENT. ALL THE HOSPITAL'S WRITTEN MATERIAL DESCRIBING FOOD OFFERINGS SHALL INCLUDE THE AVAILABILITY OF A PLANT-BASED FOOD OPTION. THE PLANT-BASED FOOD OPTION SHALL BE OFFERED AT NO ADDITIONAL COST TO THE PATIENT BEYOND WHAT WOULD BE CHARGED FOR A COMPARABLE NON- PLANT-BASED FOOD OPTION. 2. THE HOSPITAL SHALL RESPOND IN A REASONABLE MANNER AND TIME TO ANY REQUEST MADE UNDER THIS SECTION. THE REQUEST SHALL BE EFFECTIVE FOR EVERY HOSPITAL MEAL OR SNACK IN WHICH THE PATIENT IS REASONABLY EXPECTED TO PARTICIPATE. THIS SECTION DOES NOT PRECLUDE THE OFFERING OF PLANT- BASED FOOD OPTIONS TO PATIENTS WHO HAVE NOT REQUESTED IT, AND DOES NOT PRECLUDE AN INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS REQUESTED A PLANT-BASED FOOD OPTION FROM SELECTING A NON-PLANT-BASED FOOD OPTION. 3. AS USED IN THIS SECTION: (A) "PLANT-BASED FOOD OPTION" MEANS A FOOD OR BEVERAGE THAT IS FREE OF ANIMAL PRODUCTS AND THAT HAS NUTRITIONAL VALUE COMPARABLE TO THE NON- PLANT-BASED FOOD OPTION THAT IT REPLACES. EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets

[ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD04012-04-9 S. 1471--A 2 (B) "ANIMAL PRODUCT" MEANS MEAT, POULTRY, SEAFOOD, DAIRY, EGGS, HONEY, AND ANY DERIVATIVE THEREOF. 4. THIS SECTION SHALL NOT APPLY TO PATIENT NUTRITIONAL SUPPORT PRODUCTS INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, INFANT FORMULAS, NUTRITIONAL MODULARS, ORAL NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS, ENTERAL NUTRITION FORMULAS, AND PARENTERAL OR INTRAVENOUS NUTRITION, PRESCRIBED OR ORDERED BY A HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL, LICENSED, CERTIFIED OR OTHERWISE AUTHORIZED TO PRAC- TICE UNDER TITLE EIGHT OF THE EDUCATION LAW, ACTING WITHIN THE PROFES- SIONAL'S LAWFUL SCOPE OF PRACTICE. HOWEVER, WHERE A REQUEST IS MADE UNDER SUBDIVISION ONE OF THIS SECTION, AND A HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL IS CONSIDERING PRESCRIBING OR ORDERING A PATIENT NUTRITIONAL SUPPORT PROD- UCT UNDER THIS SUBDIVISION, THE HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL SHALL CONSIDER AND ADVISE THE REQUESTER WHETHER A MEDICALLY SUITABLE PLANT-BASED FOOD OPTION IS REASONABLY AVAILABLE. § 2. This act shall take effect one year after it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the commissioner of health may make regu- lations and take other actions reasonably necessary to implement this act on that date.

So throw some broccoli and baked potatoes in on the menu?  Why is this so radical and burdensome?  Do you think it could be the Deep State?

What is burned in my brain...is taking my fresh open heart patient from the OR to the SICU and seeing the second day patients being served fried chicken.

14 hours ago, Cowboyardee said:

For example, many brands of white granulated sugar and various fruit juices are processed using animal products

I would think vegans who are that strict about it would be okay with going without vegan juices (do you mean like the cranberry cocktail with added sugar?) and desserts while they're in the hospital. Dessert isn't necessary for healing. A day's worth of good meals that provide protein, vegetables/fruits, fats, and carbs, however, is. And it's easy and cheap to provide that. Beans and rice = cheap. Many vegan breads and peanut butter = cheap. The same fresh fruits and vegetables provided to the meat-eating patients = cheap. I doubt the mandate is going to force hospitals to provide certified-vegan Gardein patties and vegan chocolate cake.

But if a patient literally cannot eat a meal, or has to eat something unsubstantial for their entire stay, OR is forced to eat the meat, butter, and eggs that probably landed them here with their MI or stroke... that's pretty ridiculous considering a vegan diet is just no animal products. Emergent's cousin is not all vegans. We also provide kosher and halal options, which I believe are stricter than "no dead animals or their secretions."

If it's just a matter of offering more choices to hospital patients why not. The health benefits of Vegan diets are questionable as they do lack certain essential elements of healthy diet. My own health has inproved since my physician started me on a diet that is 20% animal protein, 30% fat and 50% vegetable's a fruits with very limited grain. Hospital food is just nasty......

55 minutes ago, hppygr8ful said:

Hospital food is just nasty......

That is definitely true, no matter what diet you're on!  I also agree with the story above of the ridiculous choices currently offered in some hospitals, like fried chicken to a cardiac patient.  An endocrinologist I once worked with was bemoaning the fact that he had been on the nutrition committee of our hospital for 15 years and the best he'd been able to achieve was to get them to offer diet maple syrup with the pancakes they were putting on a diabetic tray 

On 12/15/2019 at 5:29 AM, Emergent said:

According to my cousin,  plant-based doesn't use oils. She's a fanatic about it. She won't even use olive oil on a salad. 

I think the word "fanatic" pretty much tells the story.   Olive oil comes from PLANTS.  Which you would eat in a PLANT BASED DIET.    

Political or not, I think it's a great idea.  I've been a vegan for 10 years.  I'm not militant about it, I don't preach about it or try to convert people.  When I am around other people I try to adapt as well as possible, because it is MY choice to be vegan and should not be other people's problem.  However, when one is in a hospital, it is usually not by choice.  Proper protein intake is essential for healing, and vegans should be able to have non meat  protein options when they are hospitalized. I worked in a 7th Day Adventist hospital 40 years ago and their entire menu was vegetarian. As far as the politics...name a subject that hasn't been politicized in this day and age.  And so what if it has?  Are we not allowed to have discussions about issues that are meaningful to us?  No one is stopping you from eating whatever you like...so what's your beef?  (ha! little joke!)

On 12/15/2019 at 6:18 AM, LibraSunCNM said:

Worse how???  What is your real beef (haha) with veganism?

Probably my cousin she's continously obnoxious and preachy, embarrassing to eat out with,  obsessed. Not only that, I'm far healthier and more vigorous on a lower carb way of eating with an ideal weight,  muscular build, amazing amounts of energy. And, I don't talk about it much. My cousin is very thin, poor muscle tone, has had hip surgeries, and is low energy,  spends a fortune on various alternative medicine providers. 

I think sometimes people who get into extreme dietary ideologies actually have eating disorders. 

I am ideal weight, muscular build, amazing energy,  and I've been vegan for 10 years.  There are ironman tri athletes who are vegan.  I wouldn't base all your opinions of veganism on your cousin, who obviously has other issues.   I'm glad low carb works for you.  We all have to choose what works best for us.  

I am a vegan and when I spent one week in the hospital back in 2008, I had no food options except canned beans, artificial jello (it did not have gelatin), and juice. Btw, I received an itemized bill for my hospital stay because I did not have insurance at the time and for $4,000/night for the room, I expect more than just canned beans and artificial jello!

I think it is wonderful that they are including vegan options on menus. It is about inclusion and no one is trying to make any political statements, except maybe some fanatical vegans, which is not the majority. 

I have a friend who is a vegan. It is a lifestyle, not only a diet. I think it's a great idea.