Friday, April 2, 2010

Doctor Tell Patients To Go Somewhere Else If They Voted For Obama

Orlando Sentinal-MOUNT DORA — A doctor who considers the national health-care overhaul to be bad medicine for the country posted a sign on his office door telling patients who voted for President Barack Obama to seek care "elsewhere."

"I'm not turning anybody away — that would be unethical," Dr. Jack Cassell, 56, a Mount Dora urologist and a registered Republican opposed to the health plan, told the Orlando Sentinel on Thursday. "But if they read the sign and turn the other way, so be it."

The sign reads: "If you voted for Obama…seek urologic care elsewhere. Changes to your healthcare begin right now, not in four years."

Estella Chatman, 67, of Eustis, whose daughter snapped a photo of the typewritten sign, sent the picture to U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson, the Orlando Democrat who riled Republicans last year when he characterized the GOP's idea of health care as, "If you get sick America … Die quickly."

Vote here: Is Dr. Cassell within his rights to want Obama supporters to go elsewhere for care?

Chatman said she heard about the sign from a friend who was referred to Cassell after his physician recently died. She said her friend did not want to speak to a reporter, but was dismayed by Cassell's sign.

"He's going to find another doctor," she said.

Cassell may be walking a thin line between his right to free speech and his professional obligation, said William Allen, professor of bioethics, law and medical professionalism at the University of Florida's College of Medicine.

Allen said doctors cannot refuse patients on the basis of race, gender, religion, sexual preference or disability, but political preference is not one of the legally protected categories specified in civil-rights law. By insisting he does not quiz his patients about their politics and has not turned away patients based on their vote, the doctor is "trying to hold onto the nub of his ethical obligation," Allen said.

"But this is pushing the limit," he said.

Cassell, who has practiced medicine in GOP-dominated Lake County since 1988, said he doesn't quiz his patients about their politics, but he also won't hide his disdain for the bill Obama signed and the lawmakers who passed it.

In his waiting room, Cassell also has provided his patients with photocopies of a health-care timeline produced by Republican leaders that outlines "major provisions" in the health-care package. The doctor put a sign above the stack of copies that reads: "This is what the morons in Washington have done to your health care. Take one, read it and vote out anyone who voted for it."

Cassell, whose lawyer-wife, Leslie Campione, has declared herself a Republican candidate for Lake County commissioner, said three patients have complained, but most have been "overwhelmingly supportive" of his position.

"They know it's not good for them," he said.

Cassell, who previously served as chief of surgery at Florida Hospital Waterman in Tavares, said a patient's politics would not affect his care for them, although he said he would prefer not to treat people who support the president.

"I can at least make a point," he said.

The notice on Cassell's office door could cause some patients to question his judgment or fret about the care they might receive if they don't share his political views, Allen said. He said doctors are wise to avoid public expressions that can affect the physician-patient relationship.

Erin VanSickle, spokeswoman for the Florida Medical Association, declined to comment specifically.

But she noted in an e-mail to the Orlando Sentinel that "physicians are extended the same rights to free speech as every other citizen in the United States."

The outspoken Grayson described Cassell's sign as "ridiculous."

"I'm disgusted," he said. "Maybe he thinks the Hippocratic Oath says, ‘Do no good.' If this is the face of the right-wing in America, it's the face of cruelty…Why don't they change the name of the Republican Party to the Sore Loser Party."
We told you that you wouldn't like this Democrat kind of change. I think more Americans need to make the Obama supporters pay since they exempted the unions from paying. They wanted it so only they should get it.  The Democrats had no problem pusshing all the change and cost onto us while the Democrat unions and states get special treatment. Turn about is fair play. And there will be a big turn about coming in the next few years. We need to stick the unions with the bill since they wanted it and give Congress and their families the same health care we will get. And when they bitch and moan about it just tell them to sit down and shut up because we are speading the wealth so the Democrates have to pay their fair share of this obamacare.

34 comments:

  1. That doctor should be brought up before the medical board in Florida for violating his Hippocratic oath.

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  2. How is he violating his oath Comrade Bruce?

    Should the Mayo Clinic as a whole be brought up before the medical board because they won't take any new Medicare patients? BWAAAHAHAHAHAHAHA

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  3. Bruce he has the right to refuse anybody he wants. He is running a business. Will you make doctors keep practising meds? Will you make doctors that don't take HAP/HMO or Medicare start taking it? Are you a communist or what? You live in a rabbit hole instead of America if you want to make doctors see sertain patients. But it shows us what a dictator you and the Democrats are.

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  4. Bruce, it's their choice. You want to turn around and go someone else, do so. No one saying 'tell us who you voted for'
    Put this is what you'll see in the future, and the sign will say 'If you voted for Obama, seek urologic care elsewhere, we've gone out of business'

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  5. Hey Bruce why don't you throw a brick through his window? lol

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  6. So fealkhead, you would deny a person their right of free speech? Oh, I guess we already knew the answer.

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  7. well, its not illegal and he can do it if he chooses. I think its morally and ethically wrong but thats just me.

    I think we can agree that if its unethical by his standards to turn someone away (which he says in the post) posting that sign is in effect turning people away and its unethical. Its his intention to get people who disagree with him to leave his care. His denying it just shows a lack of conscience and a huge case of denial.

    Does this make "Do not Tresspass" and "No Hunting" signs mere suggestions or are they statements of intent? Surely even a conservative can see that he is attempting to turn people away and thus being unethical by his on standards.

    Again i have no legal issue with it, but he's being unethical and he knows it. You all know it too.

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  8. Kind of off topic, but I had to share this video. This is a democrat congressman, maybe the dumbest I have ever seen. I am sure this guy voted for Obamacare. I have to warn you, be prepared for a good laugh.


    http://www.peachpundit.com/2010/03/31/making-georgia-proud/

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  9. Craven, that guy is great. Democrats are dumb aren't they? He thinks an island can tip over.

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  10. Joe3C, doctors turn people down all the time. They don't take every kind of insurance either. Welcome to the real world where there are reactions to actions. You were warned that this would happen and now it is. Get used to it. How is fighting back unethical?

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  11. Craven, that is just too funny. Later in the video he was wringing his collar, probably thinking 'I shouldn't be here'

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  12. Joe -

    Just curious, and I think we can have a good discussion about this, so don't get your hackles up, but do you think that it is morally/ethically wrong for all these doctors to quit their practice because of this ridiculous law that has been passed? Or for potential doctors to move into another field because of this legislation?

    I think it's fine what this guy did. Maybe I would feel differently if someone did that back in Bush's day ... I guess I would say it's stupid, but he can do as he pleases as long as he isn't harming anyone else. That guy's practice might suffer for doing what he believes in. Are people being denied care, no they are not, they are free to go see any doctor they want to. What is morally or ethically wrong here?

    Now, there was that employer, and I believe he was here in Michigan, who fired any employee that smoked, even if they only smoked at home, and I believe it was due to high insurance costs. Is that morally and ethically wrong? Well, what about in the near future when the government forces higher premiums on smokers and drinkers, because they are more of a burden on the new health insurance scam-ola, and they use that as an excuse to "socially engineer" smoker's/drinker's habits (i.e. a new sin tax)? So the government will force you to buy health insurance, and then penalize you for how you choose to live your life? Is that morally or ethically right?

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  13. The only doctor dumb enough to turn away patients for their political views is Howard Dean. Although I think that primordial scream he had a few years ago would scare most rational Americans.

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  14. And what will you say when a doctor refuses to treat anyone that didn't vote for health care reform? I'm sure the communist slurs will be rolled out big time.

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  15. Bruce why would a doctor do that? You are in another univers Bruce.

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  16. Well this is certainly all over the blogsphere.

    I think it is terrific in that Americans are seeing PRIVATE practice at work. It also shows the "unintended consequences" for bad decisions working in real time.

    Let the rationing begin!

    Can you say repeal? Yes we can!
    Change you can really believe in!

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  17. John, i don't think its unethical for people to change jobs or choose different work. That's what a doctor would be doing if he choose to leave his practice. I'm okay legally with what he did.

    My main problem is that his logic is faulty. He claims he is not turning people away, but he is. We should be able to agree that his argument is complete illogical. He is turning people away by indicating to them he doesn't want their business and yet trying to say he isn't.

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  18. John,
    did you see the latest wackos from the right bit? The Guardians of the Free Republic and their letter writing campaign with the Sovereign Citizen group. Fucking hilarious.

    Tell all Govenors to step down or else. lol..Now before you get YOUR heckles up, this one is too stupid to think its real. Just a bunch of small timers looking to use the anti-Obama health care tea partiers to get some attention. trying to cash in the baggers feeling of discontent.

    Its going to get crazy out there soon.

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  19. Actually it is not illogical if you think, repeat think. He is maintaining a certain tax bracket as well. See in a free society you retain the to choose. Besides, I'd bet these "patients" are Medicare/Medicaid so he would not be paid in full anyhow which makes room for people who would.

    There are many angles to this but goes to show socialism has not nor ever will work.

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  20. Joe, I did read about that in the Freep. But when I saw that they had sent letters to both Granny and Jindal, I didn't read much farther. I just assumed they were anarchists who want no law! LOL

    This might be worth a laugh, to see how they intend to remove 50 sitting Governors peacefully. Let's hope they meant it when they said peacefully!

    And I think it's "hackles", not "heckles".

    Now, since it's the end of the week and everything seems to have calmed down, I would like to wish everyone a hearty Happy Easter, and have a great Good Friday and all that. Everyone except Bruce that is. He's a real a-hole.

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  21. Christopher,
    if you read, i repeat read my comments and then thought i repeat thought about them you'd find his actions completely legal and yet his logic completely deficient.

    what you must remember is that i am only concerned with his discussion of ethics, not the actions he took. He was well within his rights to post that sign. I am not not even attacking his choice of posting the sign. I am discussing his logic pertaining to his own view of medical ethics that i am discussing.

    It is his suggesting that, "he was not turning anyone away" that was false. Can we not agree that the sign is an attempt to get people to leave his care?

    After that there is the truth that his logic is faulty. If you post a sign like that you are in fact attempting to turn people away. But to do that the Doctor said himself would be unethical. At the very least he's relying on a slim semantical argument that since he's not outright telling them he won't treat them he's not turning them away. Its a dishonest way to act for anyone.

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  22. that was brilliant...i am discussing....blah blah blah...that i am discussing. Look what happens when the brain goes faster than the two finger typing. lol..i am a dumbass

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  23. And just think how much free press he is getting.

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  24. JoeC. are you still an anarchist?

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  25. Chris, i still have very real anarcho tendencies, but don't get confused and assume i want all government gone. Certain aspects of anarchy don't appeal to me and certain socialist aspects do.

    Why?

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  26. I don't know any anarchists and would like to know more. I know why you want anarchy so you can replace the old with the new. And I see that you think obama is doing just what an anarchist likes.

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  27. Doctor Needs NO Logic. Freedom Of Choice, Maybe He Figures He Should Use It Before He Loses It!

    Its Doctors Ball, Game, Set, Match!

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  28. chris, your confusing general anarchy, or chaos with political forms of government. I don't want anarchy or even the "Sons of Anarchy" but i do watch it.

    the simplest way to describe it is that in some ways and things i am a left leaning anti-statist. Perhaps thats just a by-product of my rightwing experience as a younger person and its found a new way to express itself.

    In fact many of the former attributes of my right leaning years have found themselves to be compatible with some aspects of my left leaning self.

    but anyways, its all a jumble of political science mishmash. I'm not one thing or another, but a collection of various ideas.

    that probably doesn't answer shit but thats what i got this monring.

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  29. What is "Sons of Anarchy"? Isn't anarchy a way to destroy the old so the the new can be formed?

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  30. Sonsof anarchy is a tv show. About a biker gang.

    Chris, anarcho forms of government do not have to rely on crisis to form and the theories about them don't rely on chaos or uphevel for change. Although some have discussed the anarchist struggles and systems that could, i don't find any need for violent or extreme change to bring about anything.

    what i feel and believe in is a lessening of Statist control over various aspects of our lives. these aspect tend to be more social related than fiscal although on some fiscal matters i see a need for less national control.

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  31. Then how does your form of anarchy take effect into our government? So you want more government control over social issues?

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  32. Chris i said a lessening of statist control. Knowing what STATISM is should be a requirement to discuss politics, especially to blog about them.

    2. the same way any poltiical form would in this country, elections. I know where you've been going and why, but thats not me.

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  33. Ya you are right Joe you have made it clear in both your words and actions. It's funny how all the anarchist are pro obama and pro this congress.You do know what anachy is don't you Joe? Or are you changing the meaning again?

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  34. Joe I alsdo believe in state rights above the Feds. But I'm not an anarchist. And I believe in our God given rights. You don't. That is why you think the government has domain over it's citizens.

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Please keep it clean and nice. Thank you for taking the time to post you thought. It means a lot to me that you do this.