Can my sister's daughter stop me from seeing my sister in the hospital?

I completely agree with Maggie. It's a question of what your sister wants, and that is all that matters. And I further agree, though I'm much more boring about it than Maggie is, that POA does not give anyone any right to dictate anything. As her mother's POA, the daughter's duty is to serve her mother's best interests and to implement her wishes as far as possible. This notion that POA is a legal way to create monsters drives me up the wall, frankly.

I can readily imagine a) that your sister is not up to emotional follow-up on your reunion; or b) that your niece cannot handle your reappearance on the family scene right now, while she is coping with her mother's terminal illness; or c) both; or d) that it's nothing to do with you personally, it's just that they're already overwhelmed without adding further complications.

Perhaps the best thing to do would be to send a card, with or without flowers, to your sister and tell her you are thinking of her and would love to see her if she feels well enough for a visit. Give the ward staff your contact details, too. And send your niece a compassionate message telling her the same. Then let them be. If you don't make yourself a nuisance to your niece she's more likely to keep you in the loop.

I'm not unsympathetic to your feeling, perhaps, that you've only just found your long lost sister and now, sadly, her time is short; but you must put her first. I'm sorry for your situation all the same. Best wishes, please update.

If your niece has power of attorney for her terminal mother, she can dictate who sees her. With a twenty years separation between the two of you, you really don't have anything in common except your biological connection. Try being nice to your niece and extend your good wishes for your sister. Honey always attracts more than vinegar.

When my Sis was near the end for some unknown reason, (maybe the medication), she had put a sign on the door of the hospital room that said "No Visitors".

Her beau of 15 years called me from his cell phone in the hospital parking lot. He'd taken the morning off of work, bought her some flowers, went to the room, seen the sign, and went back outside to his car, confused. I had him sit tight and phoned the nurses station. They said that was what she wanted, but they didn't know why either. The nurse assigned to her went to her room and asked if he could visit, and she said "yes, of course he could!". She was very happy to see him and loved the flowers, ...(?). Later that day I was due to go take her some things, sign still there, I checked with the nurse, of course I was welcome. Same when our Dad and Stepmother from out of state came. Not sure who wasn't welcome. I'd speak to the nurses, have them check it out, let your Sis and the medical staff have the final word, not the niece. You just never know what is motivating the niece, this just isn't the time to be playing politics if that is what is happening.

If your sister is no longer in her right mind then your visit may only confuse her.
I think the family has a right to their privacy at a time like this, and you admit you have not been part of their lives for at least twenty years. I understand your need to maintain this connection and make up for lost time, but in my opinion it is a self serving desire and perhaps not in the best interests of your sister and her family.

I disagree that a person with HCPOA or POA can screen visitors. I would ask staff to ask her. If she's unconscious, that's something else again. But a HCPOA or POA doesn't take away the lady's rights to see whoever she'd like to see.

After a twenty year separation, NOW the writer wants to see the sister on her deathbed? If I was the patient's daughter and had been taking care of her needs, I wouldn't want an estranged relative popping in at the last minute making demands. How does the letter writer know her sister "was not in her right mind" to tell the daughter she didn't want to see her sister. Sometimes there is pain and hurt feelings between siblings that time won't heal, and no one has the right to butt. Hospital staff should follow the wishes of the patient and next-of-kin, whether it be regarding visiting or revealing health information (prohibited by law without prior consent of the paitient).

Maybe the woman didn't want anyone out of the family to visit. Maybe the sign should have said Family. Really, if I was very ill and didn't look myself, I would only want family to visit.

As Ferris1 said, if your niece has POA then she can dictate who visits her mother. However, I believe this only applies within a facility. If patient is at home, you would need a restraining order to keep family away, otherwise it's a form of elder abuse.

POA does give the niece rights to refuse visitors if her mom is not of sound mind. I had POA for my uncle and was able to set rules on how much they could tell people and who could see him. I never restricted who could visit but did restrict how much they could tell people.
Try talking to your niece and find out why first, as was mentioned earlier, the visit may confuse your sister. If that is not the case ask her politely, let her know you would like to say your good-byes, most people understand how important this is.

Holy c**p I can't believe how divisive and acrimonious this thread has become! Depending on your point of view the daughter is either a self righteous harpy with no compassion or she is grieving, overwhelmed and protective of her mom. Since there is very little detail provided none of us can really know!

I doubt there are bouncers at the door of the hospital checking for ID, just go and see her. If she is alert and wants a visit, great! Be prepared though if the family is there and won't admit you, to just leave a card or a keepsake.