Refusing care based on sexual orientation

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Ruby Vee, BSN

17 Articles; 14,030 Posts

Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.

Back in the early 80s, when AIDs was just beginning to hit the front pages, we had a lot of folks refuse to care for male homosexuals. Fear of AIDs. Then there were those who refused to care for anyone with AIDs because "everyone knows they're homosexuals." In the 30+ years since then, most of the country has become more enlightened. Apparently your new home is still living in the 80s. This is going to be an educational experience for you! Be sure to keep us posted.

Ruby Vee, BSN

17 Articles; 14,030 Posts

Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
Report him to the hospital board. They took an oath.

I doubt very much the hospital board took an oath.

Insomniac-88

84 Posts

Are you sure this is legal? I may be overly shocked since I'm Canadian and this is unheard of, but it seems like something that would be illegal in any part of the modern world?

Specializes in Ortho, CMSRN.

What type of care was required that could possibly harm the physician's personal idea of morals by providing it? That doesn't even make any sense?! I have seen a physician (thankfully NOT at the hospital that I work for, but one that I did clinical in school in) turn away a young man whose extreme cramps due to professed drug withdrawals was literally bending his arm in the wrong direction (He was trying to quit a street drug (...K2 or something?!) cold turkey with the help of his mother, who was by his side. His ED nurse had fluids running to rehydrate the poor guy when the doctor walked in the room with the patient's drug screen results. Doc said "He's positive for drugs, take the IV out. We're not treating him". I don't think I've ever seen a grown man choke back tears and look so scared and desperate. His mother was distraught as well, but they were both trying to keep it together as they walked out the ED door back home to face a horrific withdrawal by themselves. No one even gave them a reference, or a way to find help with addiction services or withdrawal. The guy was still dehydrated... I didn't feel like I even had the right to speak up as a student, but I wished that I did. Apparently, in some hospitals, doctors can refuse for any reason and the nurses feel that they have to obey their every whim. That is sad if it causes the patient more harm than good.

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