News: Detroit pediatrician refuses lesbians' baby

MaRy

Quote:

Sitting in the pediatrician's office with their 6-day-old daughter, the two moms couldn't wait to meet the doctor they had picked out months before.

But as Jami and Krista Contreras sat in the exam room, waiting to be seen for their newborn's first checkup, another pediatrician entered the room and delivered a major blow: The doctor they were hoping for had a change of heart. After "much prayer," she decided that she couldn't treat their baby because they are lesbians.

When we tell people about it, they don't believe us. They say, '(Doctors) can't do that. That's not legal.' And we say, 'Yes it is.' "

The Contrerases of Oak Park, Mich., are going public with their story to raise awareness about the discrimination that the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community continues to face. There is no federal or Michigan law that explicitly prohibits discrimination against LGBT individuals.

"Dear Jami & Krista, I am writing this letter of apology as I feel that it is important and necessary. I never meant to hurt either of you. After much prayer following your prenatal (visit), I felt that I would not be able to develop the personal patient doctor relationship that I normally do with my patients."

"Please know that I believe that God gives us free choice and I would never judge anyone based on what they do with that free choice. Again, I am very sorry for the hurt and angry feelings that were created by this. I hope that you can accept my apology."

"It's a very scary thing," said attorney Dana Nessel, who has handled several discrimination cases involving the gay community, including the same-sex marriage case that's going to be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court in April. "We don't have special protections for LGBT individuals."

There also is no federal law that explicitly prohibits discrimination against LGBT individuals. Part of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 outlaws hiring or employment discrimination on the basis of a person's "race, color, religion, sex, or national origin." But it doesn't include sexual orientation.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/n...baby/23642091/

Caesar

Quote:

Originally posted by SmokeOnDiamonds

popmagic

But a doctor shouldn't be able to that. It's not just unethical but it should also be illegal.

Buddy

Colin

Hate my state. Our ban on marriage equality was found constitutional though so it's not surprising.

Kartrashian

Quote:

Originally posted by SmokeOnDiamonds

nn

aloirt

Auburn

I can't believe how long Michigan is taking with equality

Price of Fame

inb4goosey

FattMatt

Quote:

Originally posted by SmokeOnDiamonds

This is why no one likes gay men

Mezter

Um...

theo.

I hope more stories like this become visible in the media.

ezra

I hate living in Michigan

Chucko

Got to love my state, it's so liberal here I wonder why Granholm never got anything passed, I guess she was too busy plunging the state in to ruin to be bothered.

MaRy

and to think Queen of gays Madonna is from Michigan

Eric.

Now in my opinion you can decline me a cake or a dinner, I just won't go back to your business and trash the hell out of it, but outright deny medical service is just disgusting and gross.

Chucko

Quote:

Originally posted by Eric.

Now in my opinion you can decline me a cake or a dinner, I just won't go back to your business and trash the hell out of it, but outright deny medical service is just disgusting and gross.

To be fair the baby was not denied medical services and did have the checkup.

GreasyBruce

Quote:

After much prayer following your prenatal (visit), I felt that I would not be able to develop the personal patient doctor relationship that I normally do with my patients."

"Please know that I believe that God gives us free choice and I would never judge anyone based on what they do with that free choice. Again, I am very sorry for the hurt and angry feelings that were created by this. I hope that you can accept my apology."

What the ****

It's almost comical. "I wouldn't judge anyone", then why don't you give them the ****ing appointment?

The way religious bigots twist words to try to make their hate and ignorance seem acceptable

Anyway when doctors sign up to be doctors, they sign up to leave their faith behind. That's the whole point of being a doctor, you're basing things on SCIENCE and on trying to make people's lives better. I would SEVERELY doubt the ability of any medical professional who decides to do something like what this person did. They should have their license revoked immediately.

Chucko

Quote:

Originally posted by GreasyBruce

What the ****

It's almost comical. "I wouldn't judge anyone", then why don't you give them the ****ing appointment?

The way religious bigots twist words to try to make their hate and ignorance seem acceptable

Anyway when doctors sign up to be doctors, they sign up to leave their faith behind. That's the whole point of being a doctor, you're basing things on SCIENCE and on trying to make people's lives better. I would SEVERELY doubt the ability of any medical professional who decides to do something like what this person did. They should have their license revoked immediately.

My PCP is Muslim I'm going to see her Monday, I'm going to ask her about this rule about leaving faith behind. I know my best friend here in Michigan is Jewish and a dentist and he didn't leave his faith behind, but maybe dentist are excluded from this rule.

GreasyBruce

Quote:

Originally posted by Chucko

My PCP is Muslim I'm going to see her Monday, I'm going to ask her about this rule about leaving faith behind. I know my best friend here in Michigan is Jewish and a dentist and he didn't leave his faith behind, but maybe dentist are excluded from this rule.

You know what I mean. You leave behind your religion WHILE YOU'RE BEING A DOCTOR. While you're seeing patients, operating, deciding the best treament, your religion is not supposed to come into play at all.