Jan

27

Lesbian Diseases, Infections Are Different Than Straight People

Filed Under LGBT, Lesbians, Politics, Religion, WTF? 

And I thought I was the only one who didn’t understand lesbians. Apparently, even highly skilled medical doctors don’t know what to do with us.

A same-sex couple has filed a human rights complaint against a south Winnipeg doctor, claiming she refused to take them as patients and told them she doesn’t know how to treat lesbians. Andrea and Ginette Markowski, who recently moved to Winnipeg from Yellowknife, were stunned last week when a family doctor at Lakewood Medical Centre suggested the couple look for another physician since homosexuality violates her religious beliefs.

The physician, who claims she has over 20 years experience, says she’s never treated a homosexual. Never. Not even once.

Elias told the Free Press she has no experience treating lesbians and gays who sometimes have “sexual problems” and other diseases. Elias practised medicine in Egypt before spending four years in Steinbach and said she’s never treated gays or lesbians in her two decades as a physician.

“They get a lot of diseases and infections,” Elias said during a phone interview. “I didn’t refuse to treat them, I said it’s better to find someone who has experience and will take this type of patients. There (are) some doctors who can treat them.”

Which “diseases and infections” is she referring to? Because as far as I know (and I’m no medical doctor, so help me out here if I’m wrong) there are no diseases out there that are unique to homosexuals.

In August 2008, the California Supreme court ruled that doctors can not refuse to treat patients based on religious beliefs, but in December 2008, George W. Bush passed a “right of conscience” law that says doctors can refuse treatment based on moral or religious grounds. I certainly hope that’s one of those Bush laws the Obama administration plans to do away with immediately.

In September 2008, a draft policy concerning doctors’ responsibilities under Ontario’s Human Rights Code addressed the issue of doctors refusing medical care based on religious beliefs:

The intrepid folks at the Ontario College of Physicians and Surgeons did so recently, producing a draft policy concerning doctors’ responsibility under the Ontario Human Rights Code, in which it stated that doctors might sometimes have to set aside their personal beliefs to ensure their patients receive adequate treatment.

I think there’s a simple solution to this problem.

When I joined the military, I had to swear that I wasn’t a conscientious objector: an individual who, on religious, moral or ethical grounds, refuses to participate as a combatant in war or, in some cases, to take any role that would support a combatant organization armed forces. So for obvious reasons, conscientious objectors are not allowed to join the military. I believe anyone who wants to be a medical doctor should be obligated to swear that they will not withhold medical care for religious or moral beliefs. Wanna-be medical doctors either agree to that or they won’t be allowed to practice medicine.

ht: SyrLinus

Comments

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6 Responses to “Lesbian Diseases, Infections Are Different Than Straight People”

  1. Ms Anonymous on January 27th, 2009 6:02 pm

    Well, the only think I’d say is that you shouldn’t want to be treated by Dr. who doesn’t want to treat you.

    The lady clearly has a bias — why sue to go to her? She’d probably give poorer care … It’s not right, but I think the better option would be to move on to another doctor.

    I’m sure there are other doctors that are just as biased — they just keep it to themselves and dole out subpar treatment.

  2. Genia on January 27th, 2009 6:30 pm

    Ms. Anonymous (great name!)

    I doubt very seriously the lesbian couple will sue the doctor then turn around and use her for medical services. They’re making a point. And if they’re successful, it will send a message to every other doctor who refuses to treat homosexuals.

    You are suggesting that there are homophobic doctors who keep their bias to themselves and purposely provide poor service. That might bet true. Just as I’m sure there are a lot of doctors who don’t have a problem whatsoever with homosexuals and they STILL provide poor service. This issue isn’t about the quality of medical service; this issue is about discrimination.

  3. jaysays on January 27th, 2009 7:27 pm

    I do hope they are successful, but I can see where the right of conscious bill will be a huge hurdle for them to overcome from a legal standpoint. Perhaps, that will be the success of their lawsuit. So much focus is on marriage equality and DADT and EDNA that the right of conscious bill kinda went to the side. I’m grateful that this doctor was not providing emergency care to a lesbian – not knowing how to treat one, she may have killed her!

  4. Liz on January 28th, 2009 6:05 pm

    I hear sometimes they get disco fever! That can be deadly!

    ;-)

  5. Genia on January 28th, 2009 6:08 pm

    Disco fever. LMAO! :-)

    The lesbians I know get two-left-feet disease – and it seems to be very contagious.

  6. Doctor “Doesn’t Know How” to Examine Lesbians « The Czech on January 30th, 2009 2:36 pm

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