tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post1897757123605300302..comments2024-03-18T06:27:51.599-04:00Comments on Not Running a Hospital: Take PridePaul Levyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17065446378970179507noreply@blogger.comBlogger97125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-89064800402891524332007-09-12T22:54:00.000-04:002007-09-12T22:54:00.000-04:00Sir,I didnt know you until i started working for t...Sir,<BR/><BR/>I didnt know you until i started working for this hospital. Ive heard of stories of how good you are and what you have done to turn around this dying institution when it merged. As, i google your name and that of the hospital, i've read enough to come to the conclusion that what i heard from my colleagues are true. I just started reading your blogs, its very fascinating and very interesting to get to know how my boss thinks, his views, beliefs etc. Though i may not know you personally, your blog serves as a venue for us to get to know you. <BR/><BR/>If only the whitehouse could be as transparent as you are and how you run this institution think things will be better...Any plans of running for the presidency?:-)<BR/><BR/>inspiredAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-19308607347072628472007-08-08T16:02:00.000-04:002007-08-08T16:02:00.000-04:00here's a link that posts some findings relevant to...here's a link that posts some findings relevant to this discussion:<BR/><BR/>http://www.fda.gov/cber/faq/msmdonor.htmAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-50198948967950996092007-07-03T21:44:00.000-04:002007-07-03T21:44:00.000-04:00hey anon - yep that's me! davehey anon - yep that's me! daveAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-54873044825253670802007-07-01T14:57:00.000-04:002007-07-01T14:57:00.000-04:00Hey Dave, are you the "dave" with the investment i...Hey Dave, are you the "dave" with the investment industry who was afraid to be caught reading this blog?!! Sounds like Paul has another addict besides me! (: When are you going to start your blog about your industry? You could be anonymous like Mr. HIStalk.<BR/>ps I liked your comment above, since I'm the doc with the gay nephew. I agree with you about the ladies - but let Paul be himself; it keeps it interesting!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-61635561247511597532007-06-26T12:34:00.000-04:002007-06-26T12:34:00.000-04:00Wow - this one was out of control. I am glad you ...Wow - this one was out of control. I am glad you stayed out of the fray once it got nasty, Paul. I do think you flamed the fires by getting too sensitive, however. You did that a few weeks later with the anon person who wrote about something else that bothered you about managers and soccer and the potential sexism beneath that.<BR/><BR/>I don't think any even-headed reader could possibly interpret you as anything other than open-minded and well-meaning. I do think that when you get into the fray and try to defend yourself you do yourself a disservice (e.g., when you put together the list way back in these responses about "why you're not a homophobic hospital"). You can't possibly win the argument and when you attempt to get into it you just dig a deeper hole. You realized this, of course, when you appropriately bid farewell earlier in this "discussion". You then got defensive on the aforementioned other post response, however.<BR/><BR/>Unfortunately, Eena did a great disservice to her cause by being so unreasonable on here. I also would draw a great distinction between Eena and Liat in that regard; the latter was making valid arguments without histrionics and the former was an embarrassing pest. Gay, straight, transgendered, white, black, hispanic, human or martian, a jerk is a jerk.<BR/><BR/>And talk about thought police, the person who took issue with your phrases and language (e.g. "gay agenda") and not the goodness of what you're doing is so insular and myopic in his/her thinking that their line of reasoning only serves to worsen their cause by further dividing us rather than uniting us in civility and common sense. <BR/><BR/>On behalf of my many gay friends, I would ask anyone reading the above to understand that Eena is the outlier, both in her own "community" and in the larger world. She should try to walk a day as a human being rather than in her own self-defined isolation.<BR/><BR/>Finally, an unrequested piece of advice to her: when you're trying to climb a mountain (i.e., overcome homophobia) be sure to distinguish between the avalanche that is out to destroy you (i.e. homophobes) and the rock that may not be sturdy enough but is well-positioned (i.e., Paul and the physician with the gay nephew). By throwing us all together you just disrespect us and run the risk of creating a less vigorous ally. You don't need that, now do you?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-56890988362895156862007-06-07T05:58:00.000-04:002007-06-07T05:58:00.000-04:00Thanks very much for the idea. I did.Thanks very much for the idea. I did.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-59382886386978488722007-06-07T04:45:00.000-04:002007-06-07T04:45:00.000-04:00Paul:Will you post the winners of your award on th...Paul:<BR/>Will you post the winners of your award on the blog and give a summary of their contribution/accomplishment? I think the winners themselves can show that this is about service to patients and community not a gay vs. straight debate.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-61976541342765245682007-05-29T20:12:00.000-04:002007-05-29T20:12:00.000-04:00Ah, finally someone discovered our "not-so-hidden ...Ah, finally someone discovered our "not-so-hidden agenda".<BR/><BR/>Let me spell it out for you so we're all on the same page:<BR/><BR/>We want fair and unbiased health care.<BR/><BR/>That's it. That's our "agenda". I know it's radical, and it may take some time to come to terms with, but just sit quietly with it a while and see. <BR/><BR/>Otherwise, I finally put my finger on what's bugging me.<BR/><BR/>Y'all may well be correct that homophobic doctors exist at all medical centers. But you know what? Just because they exist doesn't make it OK to shrug them off. <BR/><BR/>I can't imagine most of you would say a black person should go to a possibly racist doctor or that a Jewish person should see a possibly anti-Semitic doctor for care. I don't understand why you're (general you) persisting in saying queer people should just be quiet, stop bothering the nice CEO (sorry, Paul; I think you probably really are a nice CEO) and take the chance of seeing homophobic doctors. <BR/><BR/>Injustice and unfairness run rampant in this world. I don't see why we have to perpetuate this.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-74332372146004584882007-05-29T19:29:00.000-04:002007-05-29T19:29:00.000-04:00Actually Eve, I never said or implied I was a quee...Actually Eve, I never said or implied I was a queer woman. I'm straight. That said, as a straight woman, I'm part of a higher risk group for STI transmission that Liat or eeka are. I'm most concerned that this doctor doesn't understand sexual health risks, and that nothing is being done about that. That should concern everyone equally.Jodiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13873015770126405249noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-14085910441402036012007-05-29T13:36:00.000-04:002007-05-29T13:36:00.000-04:00I think the concerns Eeka and Jodie and Liat have ...I think the concerns Eeka and Jodie and Liat have all mentioned here boil down to this: <BR/><BR/>How can I, as a patient, be assured that I will not get the doctor who wrote the letter as my doctor? Because I would feel very uncomfortable, as a queer woman, knowing that my doctor had such ignorant, hateful beliefs, and I would find it hard to trust that he or she had my best interests in mind. <BR/><BR/>I am not sure what the answer is - that's why I'm not a hospital administrator - but I do know that there is a fundamental ethical problem allowing this doctor to treat lgbt people, or even straight people with "untraditional" sex lives (bdsm community, polyamorous community, etc). <BR/><BR/>In the same way, I think it's unethical for Catholic hospitals to counsel pregnant women, if they won't be honest and straightforward about their options (including abortion). Not that this doesn't happen ALL THE TIME, but that doesn't mean it's right. <BR/><BR/>So like I said, I don't know what the answer is, but I am very concerned, as a potential patient. <BR/><BR/>I go to Harvard Vanguard, and I adore my doctor (Leann Canty). I can speak openly and honestly with her about anything, and I feel like she gets me and respects me. Yet, I have no idea how Harvard Vanguard ranks in general when it comes to lgbt issues. So, maybe I would just KNOW if I was inadvertantly assigned to this homophobe doctor, and promptly fire him. But I'm a pretty assertive, savvy patient, and I wonder about patients who are less so.Supergirlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02780963537531159466noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-20237834427431512702007-05-29T10:29:00.000-04:002007-05-29T10:29:00.000-04:00Everything on blogs all really comes down to "unsu...Everything on blogs all really comes down to "unsubstantiated gossip." I have no way of knowing that Paul actually received this letter from an employee. I have no way of knowing that you're a doctor.<BR/><BR/>As I said before, I'm not going to go into specifics on a public blog about things that I've heard from clients or colleagues or at trainings or conferences. It WOULD be gossip for me to repeat things that were told to me in confidence as a professional. But the other side of my professional obligations is that I'm not going to make things up. You're posting anonymous accusations about me, but I'm posting in connection with my blog, where you can easily find my name and could get to my license if you wanted to formally accuse me of being unprofessional. Like I said, it would be a really bad professional move for me to make unsubstantiated comments about anything going on in the healthcare field.<BR/><BR/>If anyone here is actually interested in becoming more educated about how BIDMC has come up in various trainings and conferences about GLBT healthcare, please feel free to contact me in private, where I can provide you with more information than I can on a public blog. I still won't breach confidentiality of course, but I can give you much more detailed anecdotal accounts than I can here. The invitation is open, in the event that anyone here is actually interested in improving healthcare for GLBT folks.eekahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08263491847297435157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-82537540399659443252007-05-29T08:02:00.000-04:002007-05-29T08:02:00.000-04:00eeka;I'm glad I managed to enable you to spread ev...eeka;<BR/><BR/>I'm glad I managed to enable you to spread even more unsubstantiated gossip about BIDMC. Since there is clearly a not-so-hidden agenda here, I choose to end this discussion. Just know that you have not further educated me in a positive way about GLBT issues, except for the preferred terminology to use.<BR/><BR/>Liat; we are just repeating ourselves.<BR/><BR/>I wish you all well.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-59072121956636041032007-05-28T22:21:00.000-04:002007-05-28T22:21:00.000-04:00Missed this:"Frankly, if I were in his position, I...Missed this:<BR/><BR/>"Frankly, if I were in his position, I would just quietly drop this event next year because who needs the hassle and bad publicity? But I bet he won't."<BR/><BR/>Again, nobody's accusing Paul of discrimination on a personal level, but any hassle and bad publicity that might happen has come about due to his choice to publish the letter and to not take steps to ensure this physician is educated.<BR/><BR/>I seem to be unable to emphasize strongly enough that I understand this doctor's values and opinions may not be changeable. S/he has a right to hir views. That's not why we're calling for education. <BR/><BR/>Even if s/he believes for the rest of hir life that homosexuality is immoral and unnatural, it's dangerous to allow hir or anyone else to spread misinformation about STD risk. A straight woman who has unprotected anal sex with twelve men is at greater risk for all kinds of diseases than a gay man who has had protected oral sex with twelve men. <BR/><BR/>Sexual orientation does not create a high risk for STDs; engaging in unprotected sex does. Sexual orientation does not create a higher risk for depression; society's reaction to queer people does. <BR/><BR/>We're just asking to know that someone has spoken to this person about spreading pseudoscience. That's all. Is that so much to ask?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-57396134471314949272007-05-28T22:07:00.000-04:002007-05-28T22:07:00.000-04:00As I've mentioned before, it wouldn't serve me wel...As I've mentioned before, it wouldn't serve me well professionally (or karmically...) to create problems where there are none. <BR/><BR/>I haven't gone into detail here about the homophobic treatment I've received at the hospital or the stories I've heard at GLBT healthcare conferences, because Paul has asked me not to discuss my medical information on his public blog, and it would be unprofessional of me to repeat what clients and colleagues have told me in confidence about their experiences consulting with folks at BIDMC, being a patient there, and presenting trans healthcare trainings there. I can definitely tell you (and really should, for the sake of perspective) that I've experienced quite a bit of personal homophobic treatment at BIDMC, and actually haven't at other hospitals. I'm only counting instances in which providers were derogatory or uninformed, or support staff told me my spouse was not "an immediate family member." I've also heard numerous stories from clients and colleagues about similar attitudes at the facility. My views about the hospital have not been formed based on this letter and the responses; this thread has just served to confirm more of the the attitude I've previously perceived, i.e., "thanks, but we don't need to learn how to be sensitive to your needs, because we're very proud to treat everyone equally" (which means they treat everyone straight, of course).<BR/><BR/>I'm also interested to hear thoughts on the previous commenter's question about whether Fenway would tolerate such behavior from one of their physicians. Does anyone associated with Fenway (or BIDMC) feel they can address this?eekahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08263491847297435157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-58228324299772698472007-05-28T22:06:00.000-04:002007-05-28T22:06:00.000-04:00Anon w/gay nephew, for want of a better name:eeka ...Anon w/gay nephew, for want of a better name:<BR/><BR/>eeka did not actually say anyone here or elsewhere has nice tits. She didn't say Paul said anyone had nice tits. She was making an analogy to a hypothetical similar situation. The physician who wrote this letter did actually say that GLBT folks are at higher risk for various ailments, but s/he was wrong about the reasons. <BR/><BR/>Why can't people grasp that some of us are far more concerned about the INCORRECT HEALTH INFORMATION BEING DISSEMINATED BY A DOCTOR than we are about the doctor's personal views?<BR/><BR/>And perhaps the physician didn't circulate the material...but Paul did. He thought it was significant enough to post to the general public, and frankly, I'm surprised that people are surprised that GLBT folks are having a bad reaction to the letter and its repercussions or lack thereof.<BR/><BR/>My partner's less-than-stellar experience happened a few years ago; complaining now would really look like sour grapes, don't you think?<BR/><BR/>17-year-old anon, again for want of a better name:<BR/><BR/>I thought the point of your post was that gay people shouldn't tell their doctors they're gay, since that's what you said. The "lifestyle" thing is admittedly a nitpick, but that word is tossed about so casually in condemnation and nobody who uses it as such has any idea how to define the "gay lifestyle". I realize you weren't personally using it in a pejorative manner; I just think some caution in word choice is polite, in much the same way I was surprised that Paul used the phrase "gay and lesbian agenda".<BR/><BR/>If you had read my posts carefully, you would perhaps remember that a physician at BIDMC did have a negative effect on my family, but I can't prove why.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-44584136317157303852007-05-28T19:44:00.000-04:002007-05-28T19:44:00.000-04:00this is anon 12:35... I purposely did not make my ...this is anon 12:35... I purposely did not make my position on homosexuality clear, considering that if I said I was against homosexuality I would probably be shot down for saying that. In reality, I completely support it and I have many friends and a family member who are gay. Obviously, the point of my post was completely missed and rather picked apart and argued with. Let me make myself clear: this argument is becoming a bit ridiculous. While it is a controversial issue and not one which should be ignored, I do not think Mr. Levy deserves for people to come back and try to ruin the reputation of his hospital among a certain community because of one "bad apple". There are bigger things than that. He obviously shows compassion about the issue and is trying to be accepting. <BR/> If you truly wish to aviod BIDMC, then maybe you should not comment on this blog anymore rather than disrespecting the hosptial, which has probably not done anything to you personally. I remind everyone that this letter was not a personal attack on any specific person but rather an opinion expressed by someone who certainly has the right to, although I neither support his way of thinking or the way in which he (or she) chose to express that opinion. <BR/>Finally, in response to liat, "(Incidentally, if you can define an LGBT lifestyle as opposed to a straight one, do let me know. Nobody else I've ever asked has been able to.)", if you had read my post carefully, I did in fact say that "I am not a staunch advocate of either "lifestyle", if being gay or straight can be grouped as seperate lifestyles", meaning that no, there is not a way to define either lifestlye. I apologize if my wording was confusing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-61320526997756091832007-05-28T19:22:00.000-04:002007-05-28T19:22:00.000-04:00eeka;I am anon 7:17. First, let me reiterate for a...eeka;<BR/><BR/>I am anon 7:17. First, let me reiterate for all that there is no evidence the physician "circulated" this material. This assertion first appeared on eeka's blog and has been picked up by everyone else. <BR/>In my hospital, physicians are not employees of the hospital. I do not know how this would affect the policy cited above or how it affects BIDMC physicians.<BR/><BR/>eeka, your point about sensitivity training is well taken, but I think it has the most utility for those who are ill informed or uneducated on this issue. This physician appears to be one of those "religious persons" (I am following the civility rule and refraining from using a more pejorative term) who believes the bible specifically forbids homosexuality, so no discussion is allowable in his mind. That still does not mean he actually renders different care to GLBT individuals and indeed, for all we know he is in a medical specialty such as pathology which does not see patients at all.<BR/><BR/>What sets me off, eeka, is that while you maintain a veneer of professionalism on this blog, I saw the following posts on your own blog. Forgive me, Paul, for giving these comments undeserved publicity but they should not go unexposed: (parentheses mine):<BR/><BR/>(headline) "The latest on condoning homophobia at BIDMC"<BR/><BR/>"He (Paul) is blaming the victims".<BR/><BR/>.....(she is telling the Fenway clinic that) "I feel uncomfortable that they typically refer patients to BIDMC for specialty care given that BIDMC is allowing physicians to spread anti-GLBT sentiments through the hospital....with little consequence." (factually inaccurate and can be interpreted as calling for boycott)<BR/><BR/>Then in your profile, you request that if you are quoted, it should be on something you actually said.<BR/>Perhaps you could treat Paul with the same courtesy - and BTW, the "nice tits" comment was not worthy of this blog, coming from either gender. I can get that in the local bar.<BR/><BR/>I did remember something illustrating my previous comment that there is probably at least one anti-GLBT (and racist, anti-semitic, anti-Muslim,etc.) physician on every hospital's staff. After I retired, I found on the net an incident in which a Mormon physician I knew well at my hospital had basicaly tricked her colleagues into siging a petition to the state legislature which contained, buried in the fine print, the phrase "homosexuality is unnatural". Several physicians wrote to the legislature retracting their signatures. She is still on the hospital's staff. Although I do not know if there were any official consequences for her, I do know she has basically been marginalized by her colleagues. That, I suspect, is what happens to most of these people eventually, and that's the most appropriate retribution for them.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-21061556971176557812007-05-28T18:51:00.000-04:002007-05-28T18:51:00.000-04:00Liat;I am anon 7:17. I prefer anon for a number of...Liat;<BR/><BR/>I am anon 7:17. I prefer anon for a number of reasons, but I am the one with the gay nephew and I am thoroughly on your side on the basic principles. Way back on comment number 10 or so, I said I wouldn't send him to BIDMC, but I rethought that position, since it's really stupid if they are a good hospital (I do not live in NE); for reasons I've already cited above and more below.(What DON'T you know about all the other hospitals in Boston?)<BR/><BR/>I an not a member of a marginalized population, the closest I can (admittedly inadequately) come is that I am an older female physician and was often in the postion of wondering whether the other docs were treating me in a certain way because I was female, or just because I have a big mouth, etc. (:<BR/><BR/>I do have experience in reviewing patient/staff complaints as former dept. chair in a hospital and med executive committee member. I would recommend your partner (as the patient) complain in writing to the hospital administration (Paul or whomever the designated complaint receiver is), with a description of the facts of the encounter and in what way you thought his/her treatment of you was substandard. For example, didn't listen to your concerns, didn't do a proper physical exam, hurried through the appointment, seemed dismissive, etc. After that, I would politely mention your social status and simply raise the question as to whether you may have been treated that way because of it. I think it's worth raising because say, for instance, the complaint reviewer has received 3 previous complaints from patients in identical social situations - that would raise a red flag and provide some evidence for further action.<BR/>That's just how I would approach it, if this helps.<BR/><BR/>As to lip service, I am not qualified to answer since I do not have any evidence except this incident. However, since I've been reading this blog I have formed the opinion that Paul goes out of his way to address issues of discrimination of any type (witness some of his previous posts.) Frankly, if I were in his position, I would just quietly drop this event next year because who needs the hassle and bad publicity? But I bet he won't.<BR/><BR/>Also see my comments to eeka below. I wish we could all sit down and discuss this face to face; this medium is more conducive to misunderstanding.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-88324422245300686962007-05-27T15:35:00.000-04:002007-05-27T15:35:00.000-04:00Anon 12:35Do not tell my doctor I'm gay? What? How...Anon 12:35<BR/><BR/>Do not tell my doctor I'm gay? What? How is secrecy not going to harm me?<BR/><BR/>How can a doctor who does not know his or her patients' sexual history provide sufficient and accurate treatment? STD risk is, as has been mentioned here, predicted by sexual behavior, and if someone has had sex with 100 men or has only had sex with 1 woman, that's important for a doctor to know. If I present with symptoms that could be an STD or could be something else, who I've had sex with is something I need to tell my doctor. <BR/><BR/>How can I let my physician know that there's no possibility that I could be pregnant but that I could have an STD and be believed without telling him or her that I only have sex with other women? (Hypothetically speaking.)<BR/><BR/>How should I introduce my wife when she accompanies me to the doctor? If my sister can talk about her husband, why can't I talk about my wife?<BR/><BR/>Am I supposed to claim to not be married to my wife, when I have a marriage license, wedding pictures, and a chunk of credit card debt to prove it? When my doctor asks if I live with anyone in order to make sure someone can keep an eye on me if necessary when I go home, what should I say?<BR/><BR/>Nobody's calling for a boycott, I don't think. We're suggesting that people have the information they need to make the right decision for themselves. The right decision for me and my family at the moment is to avoid BIDMC if at all possible. The right decision for other queer people might be different for other reasons.<BR/><BR/>(Incidentally, if you can define an LGBT lifestyle as opposed to a straight one, do let me know. Nobody else I've ever asked has been able to.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-33013910738759105402007-05-27T15:26:00.000-04:002007-05-27T15:26:00.000-04:00No, it's not the way it has to be.Why not just go ...No, it's not the way it has to be.<BR/><BR/>Why not just go to a physician who I know goes to all the GLBT healthcare conferences and writes articles about GLBT healthcare? It's working quite well for me.<BR/><BR/>Also, if people are referring to me in terms of "boycotting" the hospital, I choose to go somewhere else where I get culturally appropriate care. I go to hospitals to get care; it isn't like it's my responsibility to provide them with business.<BR/><BR/>(BTW, how would pretending to have no sexuality work when receiving healthcare? A good physician asks patients about living situation, relationships, and sexual activities. Mine does, and I need to provide her with honest answers in order for her to best assess my health and offer appropriate treatment.)eekahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08263491847297435157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-87483874855063982912007-05-27T13:14:00.000-04:002007-05-27T13:14:00.000-04:00The Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Policy on...The Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Policy on Harassment and Discrimination states that "inappropriate behavior includes unsolicited remarks, gestures, or physical contact, display, or circulation of written materials or pictures which has the purpose or effect of creating an environment which is hostile, offensive, coercive, or humiliating based on race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation (gay, lesbian, bisexual, or heterosexual), disability, or veteran status".<BR/><BR/>I believe this doctor has violated this policy. They have circulated written materials. I find hard to believe that such an individual can divorce their feelings about homosexuality from their treatment provided their patients.<BR/><BR/>I will _never_ go to BIDH hospital and as a lesbian I will let everyone I know about this situation, gay and straight.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-9501227997540624442007-05-27T00:35:00.000-04:002007-05-27T00:35:00.000-04:00No one is gay. No one is straight. We are PEOPLE. ...No one is gay. No one is straight. We are PEOPLE. We have thoughts and feelings. We have opinions. We love other PEOPLE, whether or not they be of the "correct" sex. <BR/> I'm seventeen years old. My parents have never really presented any kind of view about gay people, and somehow I have come to form my own opinion, which is that they are simply people like me. <BR/> I am not a staunch advocate of either "lifestyle", if being gay or straight can be grouped as seperate lifestyles. I do believe that every person, every couple, deserves respect. There have been some nasty words and accusations thrown around in these comments, and no person on this wall deserves to be disrespected. <BR/> In response to some of the comments on this page, I do have some strong opinions. <BR/>As for boycotting the hospital: that is absolutely ridiculous. Maybe if it were a hair salon or something that would work, but a hospital is meant for patient care and treatment of those in need, not a tool to promote a certain viewpoint.<BR/>As for picking on homophobic doctors: it is unrealistic to think that all the doctors in the world are not going to be homophobic. The ratio of homophobes to non-homophobes is probably not small enough to ensure that every doctor is not going to be homophobic. <BR/>Solution? If you are worried about it, don't broadcast do your doctor that you are gay. While I admit it is sad to have to deny who you are in order to feel that you are getting unbaised medical treatment, that's the way it will have to be until we all realize that there are bigger issues than who is gay and who is straight.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-6807373004715352442007-05-26T15:35:00.000-04:002007-05-26T15:35:00.000-04:00Wow, this is really outrageous.Honest question: Do...Wow, this is really outrageous.<BR/><BR/>Honest question: Do you think a doctor displaying such actions would be allowed to stay at FCHC with no consequences?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-87269992517738969832007-05-26T13:06:00.000-04:002007-05-26T13:06:00.000-04:00Anon 7:17, have you had a situation in which you'v...Anon 7:17, have you had a situation in which you've provided a provider with additional training on how to address prejudices and work more sensitively with individuals? It can be quite effective, if the provider is willing to learn. And if the provider behaves in a manner that indicates s/he is not, then s/he can be disciplined according to nondiscrimination policies. This is what we do in my workplace.<BR/><BR/>I worked with a provider who was insisting on calling a transgendered individual by her legal name because "this is a place of business and I'm going to be professional." This became apparent during various consultations in which the provider used the legal name, was asked by others to use the preferred name, and continued to choose not to.<BR/><BR/>So, we first gave the provider the correct information, that individuals have the right to be addressed how they prefer, and that this is required by the city nondiscrimination law, the facility's nondiscrmination policy, and the GLBT standards of care from the Massachusetts Health Access Project. The provider continued to state that he does not agree and "I'm not going to call a man a woman." He was told that he does not have to agree, but he does need to abide by policies of competent care. He agreed to have additional training and supervision on the issue.<BR/><BR/>So, this provider went to various trainings on understanding and being sensitive to trans individuals. He then observed a senior member of the team modeling an interaction in which the senior member apologized to this woman about inconsistencies, assured her we were working to be more sensitive, asked what name this woman wanted to be called, what pronouns she prefers, whether she has a preference in terms of "trans," "transgender," "transsexual," etc. The senior member then observed some of this provider's interactions with her and provided feedback later. The senior member had a few followup meetings in which the provider indicated that he still doesn't agree, but understands that the facility sees it as a patient right to be called by preferred name, and he plans to do so. <BR/><BR/>This was sufficient for us -- ideally, he would understand that she has the same rights he does to be addressed in a comfortable manner, but this goes beyond the organization's role -- we can only control how he does his job. If he were to continue to refer to her as "a man" or address her as her legal name after having been taught why this is discriminatory, he would be dealt with according to the HR policies on discrimination. It wouldn't matter to us whether this had been in her presence or not. We continue to send providers to conferences on working with trans individuals (among other marginalized groups), because we see that there's still a need, but we don't mandate that people change their beliefs beyond what comes out in the workplace.eekahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08263491847297435157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-8195963792953594592007-05-26T07:55:00.000-04:002007-05-26T07:55:00.000-04:00Anonymi:First, it would be useful if you could eac...Anonymi:<BR/><BR/>First, it would be useful if you could each choose another name, since everyone's being anonymous makes it a little difficult to track who's saying what.<BR/><BR/>You're correct that it wasn't said that the doctor circulated it through the hospital, but Paul refers to gay staff members who approved of his response, therefore it had a wider audience than just the doctor and Paul.<BR/><BR/>I understand the concept of confidentiality, of course, but there's not been any indication that anything at all was done other than a written response that this event will continue. I can't speak for other commenters but I'm less concerned about this doctor being disciplined and more concerned that he's disseminating inaccurate medical information. If I can't trust my doctor to know how STDs are transmitted, how can I trust him/her with any of the rest of my health? <BR/><BR/>Anon 7:17, are you yourself in a marginalized population? I mentioned that we feel my partner got substandard care from one physician, but we have no way of knowing if it was due to homophobia or if s/he just has poor people skills in general. How should we complain? "Dr. X seemed cranky, make hir be nicer"?<BR/><BR/>I doubt any physician is going to be careless enough to make overtly phobic statements to a patient. That leaves us to speculate, "Is this doctor saying this because s/he doesn't want to treat us, or because there's actually not a problem or what?"<BR/><BR/>It's annoying enough to be asked by medical professionals (not just at BIDMC, for the record) what my husband does for a living. It's very annoying to have to convince anyone that we are actually legally married in this state. It's downright dangerous to have a doctor out there claiming incorrect facts about homosexuality.<BR/><BR/>I'm not sure why you don't seem to understand that cerdmonially recognizing the GLBT community is all well and good, but at this point, it seems like merely lip service.<BR/><BR/>No, of course Paul can't regulate a doctor's thoughts. But this doctor has gone beyond thoughts to speech. Of course s/he is going to say s/he wouldn't treat a queer patient any differently. S/he wants to keep hir job. <BR/><BR/>I just wish I could get people to understand that we (meaning a small segment of the queer community) don't think Paul is prejudiced, but we don't currently feel particularly safe choosing BIDMC for our medical needs right now.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com