Doctor denies service to child because parent has tatoos

[mfmangel1]

Ummm...It loses its flavor if left on the bedpost overnight...???!!! :waitasec:

Seriously, I feel certain that we don't have the full story. Do we ever? The media loves controversy.

LOL! Such a bizarre story, isn't it?

 

[Details]

It sounds like the doctor was consulted on the story - I dunno, from what i've seen at times, I'm quite willing to believe there's a doctor out there who won't take a patient because he doesn't like her look.

 

[MREG2]

Wow... thank God my peditrician isn't like this guy....

He definitley needs to keep Christianity out of it. It seems to me that this IS his opinion and like txsvicki said doesn't want to treat people/kids that are not of his church affiliation. More power to him but please keep Christianity out of it.

 

[Maral]

Wow... thank God my peditrician isn't like this guy....

He definitley needs to keep Christianity out of it. It seems to me that this IS his opinion and like txsvicki said doesn't want to treat people/kids that are not of his church affiliation. More power to him but please keep Christianity out of it.

Exactly, MREG2. If he doesn't want to treat people based on their looks or church affiliation, that is his problem. I can choose not to go to him. But it is religious nuts like him who give Christianity a bad name by trying to justify their warped sense of values on Christianity.

 

[Trino]

If time is money...

This woman had to spend time enroute, sit in the doctors office probably 20-30 minutes, only to be told by the doctor that he wouldn't treat her child. Then, of course, she would have to repeat the process if she wanted her child treated.

I think she should consult the ACLU. Patients deserve better treatment than this. I think the Supreme Court addressed the dress code issue in the 1970's.

 

[GlitchWizard]

I have tattoos and am a wonderful Mom - however -

What if this mother CLAIMS it's her tattoos because the office CLAIMED it was her appearance to avoid telling her that she was loud, offensive, obnoxious, stunk up the office waiting room and her child was unkempt and misbehaved?

Perhaps he said what he said to avoid further altercations with an already upset mother.

Think of all the times we women told a man we weren't interested in them at this time because of.... (fill in the blank with something obscure) when it really was something else we didn't want to have to confront.

 

[MREG2]

Exactly, MREG2. If he doesn't want to treat people based on their looks or church affiliation, that is his problem. I can choose not to go to him. But it is religious nuts like him who give Christianity a bad name by trying to justify their warped sense of values on Christianity.

:clap: :clap: :clap: I totally agree...

 

[MREG2]

I have tattoos and am a wonderful Mom - however -

What if this mother CLAIMS it's her tattoos because the office CLAIMED it was her appearance to avoid telling her that she was loud, offensive, obnoxious, stunk up the office waiting room and her child was unkempt and misbehaved?

Perhaps he said what he said to avoid further altercations with an already upset mother.

Think of all the times we women told a man we weren't interested in them at this time because of.... (fill in the blank with something obscure) when it really was something else we didn't want to have to confront.

Personally I don't care what he told the mother. He was not treating the mother, he was treating the child. Well, was supposed to treat the child. What really gets my goat is that he is trying to say he is upholding a Christian practice. Please. Spare me.

I too have tattoos and are d*mn proud of them. Hubby too (my stud muffin). They in no way affect the way I parent or how I behave. Actually most of them are covered (except the 3 that are on my ankles and foot) and someone actually didn't believe me when I told them I had tattoos. She said we were "closet" tattoo people. LOL!!! Too funny....

 

[curious1]

I think this is just awful. This man is NOT a Christian.

There is a difference, he is 'religious' not 'spritual' and that is what is wrong with most religions these days. They focus too much on being religious.

 

[sandraladeda]

I wonder if there was something offensive about the tattoos? Like swear words, or a Satanic theme or something very sexually suggestive?

Maybe he asked her to cover them up first?

 

[ICIAshopper]

I think that there is probably more to this story. If that doctor has decided that he won't treat patients with tatoos, etc., I would think that his receptionist would mention that when scheduling an appointment with a new patient. Since tatoos are getting to be more and more common, you would imagine that he would end up with a waiting room full of new patients he wouldn't treat. That would be a waste of time and money for him.

However, if the story is true, I can't imagine him not at least giving the child a prescription for the ear infection and say that he won't allow them to come back for any other appointments.

 

[Jeana (DP)]

I think the doctor has the right to say who he's going to treat, but my question is why would the parents want their child going to someone who doesn't want to be of service to the child?

 

[mrsjonnob]

He sounds like a self-righteous jerk and I hope he loses lots of HMO contracts because of his "policy". :furious:

I don't have piercings or tattoos- they are not my thing, but I know a lot of Christians who have them.

Like a PP said, *IF* her tattoos were profane, sexual or the like, I can see that because this is an office that caters to children and I would be upset if I walked into my doctors office with my 5 year old son and he had to look at a nekkid woman tattoo or something. I doubt this is the case, or I think the doctor would have said so.

 

[Nova]

Here's a modern version of the Hyppocratic Oath:

The Declaration of Geneva reads:

At the time of being admitted as a member of the medical profession:

* I solemnly pledge to consecrate my life to the service of humanity;
* I will give to my teachers the respect and gratitude that is their due;
* I will practice my profession with conscience and dignity;
* The health of my patient will be my first consideration;
* I will respect the secrets that are confided in me, even after the patient has died;
* I will maintain by all the means in my power, the honour and the noble traditions of the medical profession;
* My colleagues will be my sisters and brothers;
* I will not permit considerations of age, disease or disability, creed, ethnic origin, gender, nationality, political affiliation, race, sexual orientation, social standing or any other factor to intervene between my duty and my patient;
* I will maintain the utmost respect for human life;
* I will not use my medical knowledge to violate human rights and civil liberties, even under threat;
* I make these promises solemnly, freely and upon my honour.

Emphasis added.

But there are other versions and translations. Perhaps the good doctor considers the entire oath a pagan relic, since it predates Christ.

 

[curious1]

If it's a private practice then he has the right to serve who he wants to just like any other private business. The only problem I have is him calling himself a 'Christian'. I don't even belong to that faith anymore and it bugs me.

 

[curious1]

Here's a modern version of the Hyppocratic Oath:



Emphasis added.

But there are other versions and translations. Perhaps the good doctor considers the entire oath a pagan relic, since it predates Christ.

Good point, I had not thought of that angle. And there are some 'christians' who are so narrowminded they would be offended by it being a pagan relic since in their narrow little minds pagan = evil.

 

[MREG2]

If it's a private practice then he has the right to serve who he wants to just like any other private business. The only problem I have is him calling himself a 'Christian'. I don't even belong to that faith anymore and it bugs me.

I totally agree with your post. I personally don't care who he serves. I do however think he is a hippocrit by calling himself a Christian and "trying" to provide a Christian office; Jesus said whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers, that you do unto me - not exact quote.

 

[GlitchWizard]

Personally I don't care what he told the mother. He was not treating the mother, he was treating the child. Well, was supposed to treat the child. What really gets my goat is that he is trying to say he is upholding a Christian practice. Please. Spare me.

I too have tattoos and are d*mn proud of them. Hubby too (my stud muffin). They in no way affect the way I parent or how I behave. Actually most of them are covered (except the 3 that are on my ankles and foot) and someone actually didn't believe me when I told them I had tattoos. She said we were "closet" tattoo people. LOL!!! Too funny....

Yep, me too. Unless I strip - no one would guess. I don't have the stereotypical "look" of a person who would ever have one. Of course I don't just have one... they're addictive!

 

[GlitchWizard]

Good point, I had not thought of that angle. And there are some 'christians' who are so narrowminded they would be offended by it being a pagan relic since in their narrow little minds pagan = evil.

I can totally see why they wouldn't treat curious1 being a fat minded (as opposed to narrow...) evil person, but to not treat a tattooed, pierced, vulgar freak of nature who is a waste of breath and not worth allowing to cross your threshhold - I just don't get it!

 

[Bobbisangel]

Link

BAKERSFIELD - A family is turned away by a local pediatrician, they say because of the way they look.
The doctor said he is just following his beliefs, creating a Christian atmosphere for his patients.

Tasha Childress said it’s discrimination.

She said Dr. Gary Merrill wouldn’t treat her daughter for an ear infection because Tasha, the mother, has tattoos.

The writing is on the wall—literally: “This is a private office. Appearance and behavior standards apply.”

For Dr. Gary Merrill of Christian Medical Services, that means no tattoos, body piercings, and a host of other requirements—all standards Merrill has set based upon his Christian faith.

I suppose this doctor has the right to deny service to anyone since he is in private practice, but, as a Christian, I have a real problem with him doing so in the name of Christianity. He needs to read his Bible again to see that Christ never refused to help anyone.

That IS NOT christian behavior to me. I don't believe that the Lord judges people on outward appearances for pity sake. What kind of Christian faith does this man have? I think he is mixed up about what is important.