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Michigan Preparing To Let Doctors Refuse To Treat Gays
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2005-03-28 13:56:47 (254 weeks ago)
Posted By: JWSmythe
(Read 7539 times || 12 comments)
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(Lansing, Michigan) Doctors or other health care providers could not be disciplined or sued if they refuse to treat gay patients under legislation passed Wednesday by the Michigan House.
The bill allows health care workers to refuse service to anyone on moral, ethical or religious grounds.
The Republican dominated House passed the measure as dozens of Catholics looked on from the gallery. The Michigan Catholic Conference, which pushed for the bills, hosted a legislative day for Catholics on Wednesday at the state Capitol.
The bills now go the Senate, which also is controlled by Republicans.
The Conscientious Objector Policy Act would allow health care providers to assert their objection within 24 hours of when they receive notice of a patient or procedure with which they don't agree. However, it would prohibit emergency treatment to be refused.
Three other three bills that could affect LGBT health care were also passed by the House Wednesday which would exempt a health insurer or health facility from providing or covering a health care procedure that violated ethical, moral or religious principles reflected in their bylaws or mission statement.
Opponents of the bills said they're worried they would allow providers to refuse service for any reason. For example, they said an emergency medical technicians could refuse to answer a call from the residence of gay couple because they don't approve of homosexuality.
Rep. Chris Kolb (D-Ann Arbor) the first openly gay legislator in Michigan, pointed out that while the legislation prohibits racial discrimination by health care providers, it doesn't ban discrimination based on a person's sexual orientation.
"Are you telling me that a health care provider can deny me medical treatment because of my sexual orientation? I hope not," he said.
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Readers Comments |
Re: Michigan Preparing To Let Doctors Refuse To Treat Gays
2005-03-28 14:24:43
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| This is from last year. It's running as new news on the Daily Kos also. |
Re: Michigan Preparing To Let Doctors Refuse To Treat Gays
2005-03-28 15:16:37
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the trickle down thing again,(and don't think it isn't).if your poor, guess what, omg
I think your gay,or politically incorrect,and i'm not gonna treat you,chalk one up for the rich |
Re: Michigan Preparing To Let Doctors Refuse To Treat Gays
2005-03-28 16:26:51
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Oh, you submitted this story last year? I didn't see it. You know if you click to the original article it shows the date. I don't think anyone is trying to fool you here.
.....Or were you just critiquing a news story that even though not current was still underreported? |
Re: Michigan Preparing To Let Doctors Refuse To Treat Gays
2005-03-28 19:40:08
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This has been bouncing around blogs all day, but the story being quoted is a year old.
see:http://www.365gay.com/newscon04/04/042204MichMed.htm
don't know if it passed into law |
Re: Michigan Preparing To Let Doctors Refuse To Treat Gays
2005-03-29 02:30:51
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Sorry about that. It seems to be a year old.
http://www.legislature.mi.gov/mileg.asp?page=getObject&objName=2003-HB-5006
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Re: Michigan Preparing To Let Doctors Refuse To Treat Gays
2005-03-29 11:59:10
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Good thing it was posted "again" because I didn't see this a year ago.
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Re: Michigan Preparing To Let Doctors Refuse To Treat Gays
2005-03-30 14:47:08
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If the current story is referring to House Bill 5006 which was passed April 2004 and still waiting in Michigan Senate, then the concerned public should read the text of HB5006. It's not difficult reading, and it is clearly not about discriminating against individuals. It allows for a health worker, in advance, to catagorically object to performing a particular task for their religious or ethical reasons. It does not, in any way, allow workers to refuse service to patients for any attribute of the patient.
Read it for yourself. I was outraged when I heard this story initially, as a fairly liberal agnostic, and have often suggested that overly religious doctors instead take a "Hypocritical Oath" - however the stated pending legislature does not fit with this story. If someone knows of newer legislature or a different lead for this story, please post information.
ThomasJ |
Re: Michigan Preparing To Let Doctors Refuse To Treat Gays
2005-03-30 20:57:15
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Yes, it is a year old. The bill lapsed, and the Michigan House has not re-introduced the issue, although it's probably only a matter of time.
And actually, this commentator is right that the refusal right is for the individual's conscience, and allows objection based on religious, ethical or moral grounds. However, exceptions are limited. For instance, the health care provider cannot discriminate, but the people protected by that provision are those already protected by Michigan Civil Rights law -- which doesn't protect gays.
The bill also said that health care providers could refuse to refer or counsel patients on the health care they object to -- in other words, they don't have to tell patients about care they don't provide. So if a rape victim is treated by one of these conscientious objectors, they can choose not to inform her of the availability of emergency contraception.
This is one of these illusively reasonable bills that become scarier when you look into them. Even if you're a church-goer.
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Re: Michigan Preparing To Let Doctors Refuse To Treat Gays
2005-03-31 13:38:44
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| This is an outrage...NO ONE, and I mean NO ONE, should be refused the right to medical treatment of any kind for any reason based on their sexual oreintation or religious beliefs, any one working in the medical field is or should be required to help any and all of those in need, suppose something like this was pased on blacks or on jews?? I don't think the world would sit by and allow that to happen now would they?? Religion has gone to far, it is time that religion took it's place back where it belongs,worhsip is a private matter and should not ALSO be legislated or judged by any man, did we learn nothing from Hitler??? speaking of this they should not push the rest of the world into a corner for simply not believing in what they believe or practice....THIS IS PLAIN WRONG AND INHUMAN!!!!!! |
Re: Michigan Preparing To Let Doctors Refuse To Treat Gays
2005-04-01 07:20:26
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| Oh my gosh! This is the most ridiculous, unfair policy I have heard of since I have moved to Michigan from NY! I can't believe that people actually support this kind of garbage! What can I DO about this? |
Re: Michigan Preparing To Let Doctors Refuse To Treat Gays
2005-04-12 20:28:22
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| Where in God`s name (pun intended) will this "religious lunacy end? Before anyone is surprised that the Michigan Catholic Conference is "pushing" this legislation, remember that the Catholic Church is the most diligent and enduring agent of intolerence the world has ever known. What`s next? One will need medical proof that they haven`t had a vasectomy before a Catholic doctor will serve them? A woman will have to swear on on her mother`s grave that she never used contraception before she can get treatment for breast cancer? Maybe the rest of us can fight back and, from here on, refuse to shake the hand of any priest on the logic that his hand may have been used to molest a child. This legislation is pure meanness and hate filled. Everyone involved should be ashamed. Bernie Klein, Ann Arbor |
Re: Michigan Preparing To Let Doctors Refuse To Treat Gays
2005-08-18 10:25:16
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