Obama asked the Secretary of Health and Human Services to set up rules to make sure all hospitals that participate in the government-funded Medicare and Medicaid programs respect the rights of patients to designate who may visit them.

It said hospitals could not deny visitation privileges on the basis of sexual origin, race, religion or gender identity.

"Every day across America, patients are denied the kindness and caring of a loved one at their sides -- whether in a sudden medical emergency or a prolonged hospital stay," Obama wrote.

He cited widows or widowers without children, members of religious orders as examples of people who have been unable to choose the people they want to be at their side in the hospitals that follow a relatives-only visitation policy.

"Also uniquely affected are gay and lesbian Americans who are often barred from the bedsides of the partners with whom they may have spent decades of their lives -- unable to be there for the person they love and unable to act as a legal surrogate if their partner is incapacitated," he said.

Obama said he was taking the measures to expand visitation rights to "ensure that patients can receive compassionate care and equal treatment during their hospital stays."

He also ordered hospitals participating in Medicare or Medicaid to ensure that all patients' advance directives, which include appointing someone to make healthcare decisions if necessary, are respected.