Living in a red state as a person who is not a NeoConservative, isn't easy. I get upset a lot lately by the behaviors, suggestions, and antics of the GOP on a regular basis. This is especially true regarding anything involving the GOP WAR on Women, and at this point, perhaps we should call a spade a spade, and mention that this is also a Christian War on Women.
I feel pretty comfortable making that call, since all assaults on our [read MY] civil rights and personal sovereignty are premised on this notion that Freedom of Religion is actually, "Freedom of Christianity". That much is clear after the multitude of attempts to limit women's reproductive options by Christian Institutions such as, but not limited to, the Catholic Church.
The fact that it seems liberal Christian groups lack the political and spiritual will to offer a coherent, counter to this form of extremist-driven ideology, only makes it worse. Nowhere is that more apparent, than in our medical profession. Especially in religiously sponsored or owned hospitals. They seem to believe that they can offer treatment options to a diverse public/citizenship based exclusively on their doctrine. Even if that blatantly violates the patient's rights, and ethically speaking, holds the patient as a political or religious hostage in exchange for [limited] treatment.
So what happened that set me off today?
Last night the news here in Oklahoma was about a woman who took her 24 yr old daughter to the hospital because her daughter had been raped. And the doctor refused to treat the young woman, and refused to give her emergency contraceptives.
This happened at an Integris Hospital Emergency Room in Yukon Oklahoma. Funny that name "Integris," I guess that's a marketing ploy to attempt to make us leap to the word, "Integrity."
Integrity is a mighty strong word, and I don't believe that the story I heard last night lives up to the definition. Although in all fairness, the staff at Integris Baptist Hospital in OKC, did give this survivor the treatment she needed and tried to make up for the poor treatment at their other hosptial branch in Yukon.
The statement in the news, by the hospital in question was reminiscent of the excuses women often hear in the military after they have been denied similar services.
"Our nurses who specialize in rape kits rotate and were not present at that hospital that night." [I am paraphrasing what I heard on the television].
So basically, what they are saying then, is that Integris doesn't have a full service ER at all their hospitals? Why don't they have nurses trained in this manner at all their large facilities? Do they think that rapes only happen in the OKC Metro?
And if this is true, then why wasn't this woman immediately transported or otherwise directed to the branch where this team of nurses were located last night? Because the mental image I am getting is that your quality of care with regards to rape-kits and treatment is a crap-shoot. If you go to the right Integris branch, all will be well. But if you guess wrong, then it sucks to be you.
Yea, that doesn't sound right.
The mother of this young woman stated that the Doctor in question, gave them attitude. That the quality of care was awful, that she treated them poorly due to the nature of their visit.
THIS FEMALE DOCTOR didn't want to deal with a rape survivor or give her adequate treatment options because of her beliefs, and made it clear that the doctor-in-question was judging her daughter and that it affected the quality of care.
Shocking, this woman-on-woman, emotional-medical violence. But really I am not that surprised. I have been treated poorly by a number of female medical personnel over the years. I guess they have to prove that they can be just as insensitive, and ham handed as some of their male counterparts.
It really makes you question why someone with so little compassion would ever attempt to enter into the healing arts.
I hope they publish this Doctor's name. I want to know who not to see EVER in the history of seeing any doctors anywhere. So If you are the victim of assault, or if you are a woman who values her freedom, apparently you need to avoid Canadian Valley Integris Hospital in Yukon.
Can you imagine? The worst thing has just happened to you, or to your beloved child. So much shame and recrimination, physical and emotional trauma, terror, violation etc., and then you transport to the hospital ER, only to have some jerk give you attitude on what could possibly be the worst night of your life. And why? Well in that state, you can only assume that it's because he or she hates women, and specifically you.
Professional Doctors who can detach themselves a bit and give us quality of care? Oh, those don't exist anymore honey. But for a large deductible, you can see Dr. Pigdog, who will make you feel like shit, and shame you within an inch of your life, ensuring that you will feel shame and trauma every time you see anyone in a white coat or visit a hospital setting.
The Doctor had options. This female doctor could have called some other doctor in. She could have had them immediately transported somewhere else. She could have been compassionate and courteous, and done her goddamn job.
Clearly she didn't, and no other staff at the hospital objected, because there they were, this distraught woman telling us all, how her daughter had been raped twice in one night on the news. First by some little jerk and then again by some self-righteous prude.
You can watch the video at this link. The embed code won't work on this site, so you have to visit the link provided.
"That's Right, I won't give you Emergency Contraceptives, because it goes against MY Beliefs."
Well Lah-Dee-dah
I would say to Integris, I have insurance. And I will choose to avoid your services with my money, until you rectify this issue. No patient should be treated like that under any circumstances. Professionalism should trump that idiocy every time.
The family has been encouraged to file a formal complaint against the doctor and that hospital. I hope they follow it through and do just that.