A Michigan doctor refuses to treat lesbian couple’s baby, citing religion

[LordKAT]

I just feel it messed up that a "medical professional" would deny treatment of a newborn child for any reason

Definitely agreed.

[Kylie]

Pediatrician refuses to treat newborn baby of gay couple

By CNN News, April 4 2015

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/pediatrician-refuses-to-treat-gay-couples-newborn-child/vi-AAar0Qm

Despite interviewing the physician prior to the baby's birth, a pediatrician refused to treat a newborn because she had two mothers.

Op Comment:
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Yikes!  A bit worse than refusing to bake cakes or provide pizza.

[Eevee]

Wow. See, this is exactly what I was afraid of. Give them an inch and you'll have to give them a mile. That poor baby...

[ImagineKate]

So many doctors.

My pediatrician is gay. He is absolutely wonderful with the kids.

If they lived up here I would recommend him in a heartbeat.

[Beverly]

http://www.inquisitr.com/1986590/pediatrician-refuses-to-treat-infant-with-lesbian-parents/

FOX 2 attempted to contact Roi for a statement, but she refused to comment, citing patient privacy laws.

According to CBS Detroit, there are currently no laws that protect gay, bisexual, and transgender families from discrimination.

"Under current Michigan law, a doctor has an absolute right to refuse medical treatment on the basis of sexual orientation," Charlie Langton, a legal analysts, said.

Well then, since the doctor has no idea what the BABY'S sexual orientation is, is she within her rights to refuse treatment to the baby? The baby is her patient, not the parents.

[PhoenixGurl2016]

http://www.inquisitr.com/1986590/pediatrician-refuses-to-treat-infant-with-lesbian-parents/



Well then, since the doctor has no idea what the BABY'S sexual orientation is, is she within her rights to refuse treatment to the baby? The baby is her patient, not the parents.

I agree this is so dumb and does nothing for the baby who needs care. I did not watch the video but is this in Indiana?

[Devlyn]

No, it's a story from Michigan, I think.

[PhoenixGurl2016]

No, it's a story from Michigan, I think.

Thank you. Still crazy though.

[iKate]

Although I think this kind of discrimination is disgusting, I can "get" the need to have a dr patient relationship that is more than just business and on a personal level, i.e. someone you are comfortable with. My doctor is straight/cis (I presume) but his nurse practitioner who I see is trans. And I actually like that I see her because I feel that she understands me and my needs as a trans woman more than a cis man or even a cis woman would. I feel that because of this I am very well taken care of.

But ultimately I think it should be up to the patient to choose and the doctor should seek to heal the sick, not impose their personal beliefs on the patient or patient's parents.

[Lady Smith]

A Michigan doctor refuses to treat lesbian couple's baby, citing religion

February 19, 2015 3:29PM ET
by Marisa Taylor

http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2015/2/19/michigan-doctor-refuses-to-treat-baby-of-lesbians.html

A Detroit-area pediatrician refused to treat a newborn baby girl because her parents are lesbians, according to local media reports that have highlighted a lack of legal protections for LGBT people in many states.

Krista and Jami Contreras brought their 6-day-old baby girl to see Dr. Vesna Roi at Eastlake Pediatrics in Roseville, Michigan, for her first checkup in October 2014. They were dismayed when they were greeted by a different pediatrician, who told them Roi had "prayed about it" and decided she could not treat the baby for religious regions, the Detroit Free Press reported on Wednesday.

I've only just found this and i know it's an old topic, but I was so upset by it I just plain had to comment.

My first thought when I read this was, 'What is the doctor's religion?' - because everyone who claims to be a Christian in some or form must know these words Jesus said to his disciples, "Suffer the little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven."

[Kylie]

When I went through nursing school, choosing to not provide care for a patient was not an option.   You are told to put your feelings aside, and provide the highest level of care that you are capable of to every patient.  I am shocked that it is an option for doctors.  I think that some nursing boards would actually consider pulling a license for refusing to care for someone based on their identity.  It wouldn't be the first doctor nurse double standard though.

[Susan]

The doctor should lose their medical license.

[Wynternight]

When I went through nursing school, choosing to not provide care for a patient was not an option.   You are told to put your feelings aside, and provide the highest level of care that you are capable of to every patient.  I am shocked that it is an option for doctors.  I think that some nursing boards would actually consider pulling a license for refusing to care for someone based on their identity.  It wouldn't be the first doctor nurse double standard though.

Same. The only time I can step away from a pt. is if they're being verbally abusive, aggresive, or don't want me treating them. I've treated neo-Nazis, murderers, rapists, meth addicts, dealers, and everyone of them is treated as any other patient of mine.

[Tessa James]

Exactly - legalized bigotry masquerading as religious beliefs.

It seems to be getting more and more popular judging by the sheer volume of the proposed legislation i've been seeing lately.

I agree and the 5 members of the so called Supreme Court traveled down this rat hole with the Hobby Lobby decision and an early decision that gave some weird personhood to US corporations.  Now US corporations are also supposedly capable of a religious faith that allows them further opportunities to discriminate at the State level.  It follows by some sad twists that an individual physician would feel emboldened to discriminate against a child with lesbian parents.  I really would rather that Winternight is right and we will hopefully see these righteous discriminators go the historical route of most religious nonsense.  Anyone still praying to Osiris or Zeus?

Fortunately there is some sanity at the corporate level that understands how harmful and "bad for sales and PR" this is for an emerging plutocracy.  cynically yours

[sam1234]

That is a pretty repulsive attitude. Especially from a Dr. Even if he has a problem with lesbians, taking it out on the baby is petty. Dr.s take an oath to help people. It seems that this one has either forgotten the oath or doesn't take it seriously. At any rate, I wouldn't go to a Dr. who did something like that.

sam1234

[Jill F]

Could you imagine if we allowed ER doctors to refuse to treat LGBT people or the children thereof?

I'd be suing for malpractice and pushing for legislation that expressly forbids this.

[Letha]

Doctors like these have no right to have a license. It's a very inhuman thing to do but unfortunately there are no laws against this.

[awilliams1701]

Not yet, but I hear Michigan is working on one.

[VeryGnawty]

Nothing says self-righteous more than refusing to care for helpless children.  I mean, I can just feel the overwhelming morality of this doctor.  This person is the pinnacle of morality.

[Lady Smith]

I think she's a self righteous prick and I'm not supposed to say things like that.