Wiccan girl gets lecture instead of exam

[mom2burgess]

http://www.heraldpalladium.com/index.php?pSetup=heraldpalladium&curDate=20051201&pageToLoad=showFreeArticle.php&type=art&index=02
Bias at the doctor’s office?

Wiccan says she got lecture, not birth control prescription she wanted

By DEBRA HAIGHT
H-PCorrespondent
NILES — Amanda Blake believes in being prepared.
So, when she turned 18 and started dating, she got the blessing of her father and went to get birth control pills even though she had no plans to have sexual relations with anyone.
She didn’t count on seeing a doctor who she said gave her a lecture about morality and her religious beliefs and didn’t prescribe any kind of birth control for her.
The physician, Dr. Delbert Huelskoetter, practices at the Southwestern Medical Clinic’s Niles office on South 11th Street. He could not be reached for comment.
Blake’s complaint is that during a Nov. 21 appointment with the doctor, she was not examined, and the doctor never gave her a prescription for birth control pills. She said the doctor questioned her for at least 20 minutes about her moral beliefs, career options and religion, and charged her $68 for the visit, which she paid.
She said she was unaware of the Christian roots of the Southwestern Medical Clinic organization before she went there for an appointment, especially since the Niles clinic also has a walk-in clinic.

More info is available at the above link

Was she discriminated against because of her religion? Should she have been charged for the visit if they never intended to prescribe BCP?

[Jory]

I don't know if she was discriminated against, because I don't know how the clinic advertises itself. If it is known that they are a religious backed facility, then she doesn't really have a leg to stand on. However, if she was only lectured, and not examined, I don't think she should have had to pay for services that were NOT provided.

[mom2burgess]

I agree. I'm not sure whether she was discriminated against, in part, because I would bet that doctor treats ANY girl wanting BCP that way, according to his beliefs. I do NOT think she should have to pay though

[Meiri]

No matter what the corporate configuration of the clinic is, if it's claiming to be a place of Medicine, then MEDICINE should be being practiced there. A lecture, with NO exam is NOT NOT NOT medicine.

From the discussion I've seen elsewhere, it seemed to me that in order to find out that this clinic is a specifically Christian organization, one has to look them up on the internet. Apparently their signage and phone listing does not give that indication. From what I also read in the other discussion, their policy does not say either way about birth control.

I'd like to know on what MEDICAL grounds this doctor denied this 18 year old ADULT the birth control method of her choice. On what could he base such a medical decision in the ABSENCE of an actual examination?

[kingclick]

LOL how stupid...this "doctor" doesn't give this girl birth control based upon what? That she didn't answer his questions correctly? If he was SOOOO against this girl having birth control he must WANT her to get pregnant and thinks that she would be a great mother. Which I really doubt. This guy needs his head examined. And he needs to give back the money she paid.

[holychicken]

She went there for medical reasons and got religious/moral "advice."

So, certainly, she didn't get the services that she asked for so she certainly shoudl not have to pay.

I don't really know what the nature of their conversation was so I have no idea if she was discriminated against. . .sounds like this doctor might do this with ALL of his patients.

[Epicurus]

This is totally wrong. She was also wrong to hand over a cent and to continue to provide answers to his questions. After a few you ask when the exam is to be performed?


Collette

[Terrell]

I think she should not have had to pay either. In my opinion it's wrong to demand money for a service and not provide the service that's being paid for.

[ehartsay]

I don't know if she was discriminated against, because I don't know how the clinic advertises itself. If it is known that they are a religious backed facility, then she doesn't really have a leg to stand on. However, if she was only lectured, and not examined, I don't think she should have had to pay for services that were NOT provided.

Um, I'm pretty sure that even if a doctor is religious backed that does not give them a legal excuse to 'push religion'. The most that they should be able to do is to refuse treatment. And THAT should be made clear at the time an appointment is made. If they made any attempt to detain her for religious pressuring and brow beating without intent to fulfil an intent of treatment, or after refusing to treat, I believe that could be considered "Unlawfull Imprisonment" (abduction) and be treated as such.

[ehartsay]

LOL how stupid...this "doctor" doesn't give this girl birth control based upon what? That she didn't answer his questions correctly? If he was SOOOO against this girl having birth control he must WANT her to get pregnant and thinks that she would be a great mother. Which I really doubt. This guy needs his head examined. And he needs to give back the money she paid.


WORD. WORD. Wordity word word.
If I were her, I would go back to him, lie and say that because of him I could not get birth control but that I have sex anyway and that the first abortion I had to have because of him I would send to him in a jar.
But I'm evil like that.>}

[kingclick]

WORD. WORD. Wordity word word.
If I were her, I would go back to him, lie and say that because of him I could not get birth control but that I have sex anyway and that the first abortion I had to have because of him I would send to him in a jar.
But I'm evil like that.>}

Yay!! Someone noticed that I basically agreed with everyone on this thread. I guess it's just more fun for the rest to hate me and attack me personally.

I love your idea...I would drive you there and give you a getaway car when the old coot has a heart attack.

[ehartsay]

Yay!! Someone noticed that I basically agreed with everyone on this thread. I guess it's just more fun for the rest to hate me and attack me personally.

I love your idea...I would drive you there and give you a getaway car when the old coot has a heart attack.

I think I might need you eventually. I think I might pretend I need BC or a tubal just to screw with some docs and to be able to use htat line!
Although I think that some religious extremists might have just as much problem with me-history has proven that 'perpetual virgins' are often percieved as political/social threats ;)

[Minnie_Beebe]

Yay!! Someone noticed that I basically agreed with everyone on this thread. I guess it's just more fun for the rest to hate me and attack me personally.

Naw, I noticed and I agree with both of you on this.

SCARY. ;) :)

[Meiri]

sounds like this doctor might do this with ALL of his patients.Then maybe he needs a career change. He sounds like he's more suited to ministry than to medicine.

[Val]

If she made an appt for a GYN exam and did not receive one, she should not have to pay. She did not ask for a "consultation". I believe it is the clinic's right to not dispense birth control, but if she expressed her desire to obtain such when making the appt, the clinic should have told her THEN that they did not provide BCPs so she could have gone elsewhere.

I think she deserves her money back.