In Washington DC common law is exercised and not the family. What can I do to help or assist my brother?

Red, I wouldn't be surprised if your brother is in MedStar Washington Hospital Center. Said hospital is the first hospital in the Washington region to be certified as a Comprehensive Stroke Center. Thus, if that is where he is, he's in good hands.

Please note only the doctors in Baltimore can refer your brother to MedStar, it's not likely his girlfriend on the fly decided he should go there.

Hospitals would refer only "one person" be the spokespeople for the patient, not the whole family. Therefore, it is the significant other who came with your brother to the hospital.

I would say, work as a team with the girlfriend, fighting among everyone is not in your brother's best interest.

I remember when my Dad had a heart attack. My Mom refused to have him go live in Rehab so he could gain his strength. Thus, Mom took Dad home and she thought in her mind it was the best for him. Dad did improve but it was a very slow improvement compared to if he had around the clock care at rehab. Thus, even married folks can disagree with doctors suggestions and other family members [which was me].

Ok. I look at this differently. Md does not recognize Common Law marriages. That is where they reside. He is in Washington DC, which does. Its where they reside that Common Law makes a difference. Not the state (in this case District of Columbia) that he is hospitalized in. Just my thought.

What does he want? GF to care for him or family? Its not unusual to live in Baltimore and be placed in a DC hospital if he can get better care there. Its only 50 minutes away.

I agree that if this is common law state and she is indeed in charge, then you will either need to communicate or you will be well and thoroughly out of it. The law is the law. Offer her your help, your love, your support in his care and you will be amazed how much she might need that now. If she is in charge of his care, his guardian, his POA and appointed by him as his love and his helpmate, then that is exactly what she is. Apparently he chose her, and not you. I am hoping that you will come together now in his time of need, and what better gift could you give him at this time? Wishing you every luck in the world.

You would need to go legal recourse route.  If the state laws are already stacked against you, is this something that you are mentally and financially ready to take on.  The law is the law and if it has already made a decision...then getting that over turned would be difficult and costly.  You would really need to show some sort of abuse in order to change that.  Sadly, that is the issue at hand.   Is your brother being abused?  Is he in danger?

Your other post did not mention anything about common law but the answer is still the same. So your brothers girlfriend is his actually his wife, common law wife. If he is not able to assign a POA or authorize the hospital to talk to you, guardianship is what you have to pursue. And it will be costly. good luck.