Written: 2/13/2012
Mercy is the closest hospital to work. It’s also a Catholic hospital.
Although, sidenote, during the G20 conference, even though Mercy was closer, the hospital designated for the conference was AGH, across the river. Although I guess by helicopter it may have been a little closer, and I know Mercy had a lot of overflow work. But anyway…
AMERICAblog has a great op-ed, worth a read, here is a bit:
So where does it stop? Does the Catholic church think their hospitals can refuse to respond to 911 calls from transgender people? That’s what happened in DC a number of years ago, the emergency medical guys freaked out when they responded to a call and found out the victim was trans. They let her die, not before verbally mocking the dying woman, rather than offend their delicate sensibilities by treating her life-threatening injuries:
Injured in an automobile accident, Hunter died shortly after a firefighter stopped treating her when the firefighter realized that Hunter was a man dressed in women’s clothes. Rather than assisting Hunter as she lay dying, the firefighter harassed her by making homophobic jokes to his fellow firefighters.
So don’t tell me it won’t happen. It has happened. And it’s what the Catholics, and the religious right, are arguing for.
I don’t want to take my chances with Mercy, although, one of my best friends sometimes works at Mercy. And if I have the choice between my best friend and someone who may be inclined to not help me as much since I’m a “sinner” in their eyes, I’m going to go for the better medical treatment, who would be ready to probably kill for me will have to visit me elsewhere.
Update: Sadly, he doesn’t work at Mercy anymore, although it’s better for him, so it’s a good thing.
All my best,
The King of Spades
