MAY 8.2004 • Q-NOTES
Michigan House passes bill that allows doctors
to refuse treatment to gays
HRC calls on Michigan Senate and
governor to stop discriminatory bill
by Glennda Testone
DETROIT, Mich. — The Republican-
controlled Michigan House of
Representatives passed a measure Apr. 23
that would allow doctors to refuse to treat
gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender
patients. The Conscientious Objector Policy Act
provides that health care workers can refuse
service to anyone for moral, ethical or reli
gious reasons, although the measure would
prohibit the refusal of emergency care.
The bill was strongly supported by the
Michigan Catholic Conference, a conserva
tive religious organization thaf also hosted
a legislative day for Catholics at the
Michigan state Capitol Apr. 23. The bill now
UpoU results
■
goes to the Republican-controlled Senate.
In addition, three other bills that may
affect health care for LGBT patients were
approved by the Michigan House Apr. 23.
One would exempt a health insurer or
health facility from providing or covering a
health care procedure that violated ethical,
moral or religious principles reflected in
their bylaws or mission statement.
Vocal opponents of the measure includ
ed Rep. Chris Kolb, the first openly gay leg
islator in Michigan. “Are you telling me that
a health care provider can deny me medical
treatment because of my sexual orienta
tion? I hope not," he asked the House.
The Human Rights Campaign on Apr.
29 urged the Michigan Senate and Gov.
Jennifer Granholm to defeat the discrimi
natory health care package.
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“Tragically, these bills allow doctors to
discriminate,” said HRC President Cheryl
Jacques. "Even now, the GLBT community
avoids medical treatment at an alarming
rate. This package could have a devastat
ing effect on the community."
As a package the bills would allow, under
certain conditions, a health care provider or
health facility to refuse to provide or partici
pate in a health care service and allow
health insurers, health maintenance organi
zations and Blue Cross Blue Shield of
Michigan to refuse to offer or provide a
health care benefit. The bill also fails to
require health care providers to give referrals
to providers who offer services they refuse.
“The American Academy of HiV
Medicine vehemently opposes any bill that
would encourage discrimination in the
clinical setting,” says AAjdlVM C.E.O. R. Scott
Hitt, M.D.
• Kenneth Haller, the president of the
Gay and Lesbian Medical Association, has
called the bill “clearly unethical.”
“This bill violates every measure of
medical ethics. If doctors want to discrimi
nate in the delivery of health care, they
should get out of the medical profession,”
said Sean Kosofsky, director of policy for
Triangle Foundation. “We hope the gover
nor will veto any version of this bill.”
“Five other states have harmful bills like
this pending in 2004,” added Jacques.
Openly gay Michigan Rep. Chris Kolb:
'Are you telling me that a health care
provider can deny me medical treotment
because of my sexual orientation?'
Those states are: Minnesota, Rhode Island.
Vermont, Washington and West Virginia.
“No bill that denies equal health care treat
ment should pass.”
Michigan State Representative Andy
Meisner summed up the general outrage
among those in the LGBT community and
their supporters.
“In order to become a physician, individu
als must take the Hippocratic Oath ...
Nowhere in the oath does it say that physi
cians shall not treat people whose ethnicity,
sexual orientation or beliefe they may not
agree with or approve of. This would amend
the Hippocratic Oath in a way that takes rights
away from people in the name of proterting
the rights of others. We do not have the moral
or professional standing to do either.”
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