PORTLAND -- A visit to Oregon Health and Science University hospital turned into a frustrating situation for a gay couple who said their rights as domestic partners were not honored until a lawyer got involved.

The domestic partner of a man who appeared to be near death was reportedly ordered to leave the room when it was time to make some major decisions about the patient.

This all started with a hospital visit. The patient, who only wanted to go by his first name of Christopher, was having trouble breathing. So his partner, Patrick took him to OHSU.

As Christopher was laying close to death, Patrick was told he had to leave the room and couldn't believe what the nurse was telling him.

"The nurse said, 'Christopher is very ill. There are some life and death decisions that have to be made and now is not the time for friends to be in the room.' I'm like, 'we don't have any friends in the room,'" recalled Patrick.

Under Oregon law, Patrick had the right to stay in the room because the pair had been legal domestic partners for nine months. Patrick found a lawyer who made a call to the hospital and after two and a half hours, he was allowed back inside.

OHSU officials told KGW this may be a case of human error.

"Truly. Every couple is welcome here. It doesn't matter what their relationship is... same sex or not. We understand it. And I'm really very sorry this happened to this particular couple," said Barbara Glidewell, a spokeswoman for OHSU.

The hospital has vowed to put staff members through additional training to make sure this doesn't happen again.

As for Christopher, his condition has improved and he was expected to go home Thursday to continue his recovery there.