What is wrong with this world?
Apr. 1st, 2005 11:49 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
quiregrrlSo I've read two very seperate news reports today that both deal with homophobia related in some way to healthcare, indirectly and very directly... and it has me a bit pissed off... the first story actually deals with my place of employment, and for once they're not the ones in the wrong, rather the stupid fuckers in parliament who persist in treating same-sex partnerships as not even second-class, but rather invisible... in a healthcare system struggling for enough staff, in a part of sydney with massive demands on the health service, servicing a majority low socio-economic population with high incidence of substance abuse and mental health problems, two desperately needed doctors are unable to fill positions they have been appointed to because they happen to be gay, and they happen to care about not leaving their partner on the other side of the world indefinitely because their partner is not entitled to anything more than what amounts to a holiday visa... if these doctors were heterosexual not only would they be welcomed into our country with open and grateful arms, but their partners would be afforded the same respect and rights as they are, instead, we live in a country that says "oh yes, we need doctors, we want you to come work here, we'll give you a visa no worries... what? partner visa? oh no.. that person isn't your partner, they can't come, we still haven't quite managed to stamp out all those pesky same-sex couples already here, we can't possibly let any more move in... but tell you what, you come work here and help us out and your "friend" there can come on holiday, isn't that nice?"
And lets face it, the more gay and lesbian doctors this world has the better if the second article is anything to go by... where the Michigan Senate is in the process of passing a law that says a doctor can refuse to treat someone based on their sexuality... the premise being conscientious objection and the right to protect their own religious freedoms... excuse me? How does providing healthcare to someone compromise anyone's religion? If I go to the doctors because I have a sinus infection, and he gives me some antibiotics, how does my sexuality or his religion come into that exchange?? And what if the tables were turned? What if a gay doctor refused to treat a christian because said patients religious beliefs did not support the personal ethos of the doctor? I just don't understand how they can possibly believe that providing healthcare to a sick person, regardless of that persons sexuality could possibly conflict with their religion... so much for christian compassion and that whole "do unto others..." thing
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Sydney Morning Herald:
Doctors denied visas for gay partners
By Ruth Pollard, Health Reporter
April 1, 2005
Two overseas-trained doctors have been prevented from taking positions at Campbelltown and Liverpool hospitals because the immigration department will not issue their same-sex partners with a family visa.
Frustrated health officials and the Australian Democrats have appealed to the Minister for Immigration, Amanda Vanstone, saying the decision exacerbated the chronic shortage of psychiatrists in public hospitals.
Both jobs were classed as "area of need" positions as there were not enough doctors willing or able to fill them.
"Given this situation ... discriminatory barriers, such as the non-recognition of same-gender relationships as de facto relationships for the purpose of granting a visa are inappropriate," a NSW health official said in a letter to the department.
The clinical director of Liverpool Hospital's mental health unit, Roger Gurr, said it was a major blow for south-western Sydney to lose both overseas-trained psychiatrists.
"Now the situation is drastic ... NSW needs 41 trainee psychiatrists to enter the system every year to provide the services - last year only 22 people were accepted into training. This year there was only 19. So there is an enormous backlog of vacancies."
Len Holt, the national president of the Migration Institute of Australia, said that unlike married or de facto heterosexual couples who were granted a four-year residency visa as a family, only the doctor being offered an area-of-need position was granted a long-term visa. Their same-sex partner could apply for a 12-month visitor's visa that must be renewed overseas and did not allow them to work while in Australia.
"The same-sex partners do not meet the definition of spouse, which in this day and age doesn't make a whole lot of sense," Mr Holt said.
It was not only doctors who could be caught in this situation - any skilled worker coming to Australia on a temporary visa would face the same discriminatory situation, he said. "In a time when we are faced with all manner of critical skills shortages ... it could result in Australia being denied a certain level of skills because of this."
A spokesman for Senator Vanstone said same-sex partners could apply to come to Australia under visitor's visas, or wait until their partner was granted permanent resident status and then apply for a longer-term visa.
The director of the NSW Institute of Psychiatry, Dr Louise Newman, reacted angrily to the decision. "It's clearly discriminating against people in same-sex relationships," she said.
=============================================================
http://www.proudparenting.com/page.cfm?Sectionid=65&typeofsite=snippetdetail&ID=1204&snippetset=yes//url
Michigan Preparing To Let Doctors Refuse To Treat Gays
(Lansing, Michigan) Doctors or other health care providers could not be disciplined or sued if they refuse to treat gay patients under legislation passed Wednesday by the Michigan House.
The bill allows health care workers to refuse service to anyone on moral, ethical or religious grounds.
The Republican dominated House passed the measure as dozens of Catholics looked on from the gallery. The Michigan Catholic Conference, which pushed for the bills, hosted a legislative day for Catholics on Wednesday at the state Capitol.
The bills now go the Senate, which also is controlled by Republicans.
The Conscientious Objector Policy Act would allow health care providers to assert their objection within 24 hours of when they receive notice of a patient or procedure with which they don't agree. However, it would prohibit emergency treatment to be refused.
Three other three bills that could affect LGBT health care were also passed by the House Wednesday which 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.
Opponents of the bills said they're worried they would allow providers to refuse service for any reason. For example, they said an emergency medical technicians could refuse to answer a call from the residence of gay couple because they don't approve of homosexuality.
Rep. Chris Kolb (D-Ann Arbor) the first openly gay legislator in Michigan, pointed out that while the legislation prohibits racial discrimination by health care providers, it doesn't ban discrimination based on a person's sexual orientation.
"Are you telling me that a health care provider can deny me medical treatment because of my sexual orientation? I hope not," he said.
"I think it's a terrible slippery slope upon which we embark," said Rep. Jack Minore (D-Flint) before voting against the bill.
Paul A. Long, vice president for public policy for the Michigan Catholic Conference, said the bills promote the constitutional right to religious freedom.
"Individual and institutional health care providers can and should maintain their mission and their services without compromising faith-based teaching," he said in a written statement.
And lets face it, the more gay and lesbian doctors this world has the better if the second article is anything to go by... where the Michigan Senate is in the process of passing a law that says a doctor can refuse to treat someone based on their sexuality... the premise being conscientious objection and the right to protect their own religious freedoms... excuse me? How does providing healthcare to someone compromise anyone's religion? If I go to the doctors because I have a sinus infection, and he gives me some antibiotics, how does my sexuality or his religion come into that exchange?? And what if the tables were turned? What if a gay doctor refused to treat a christian because said patients religious beliefs did not support the personal ethos of the doctor? I just don't understand how they can possibly believe that providing healthcare to a sick person, regardless of that persons sexuality could possibly conflict with their religion... so much for christian compassion and that whole "do unto others..." thing
=======================================================
Sydney Morning Herald:
Doctors denied visas for gay partners
By Ruth Pollard, Health Reporter
April 1, 2005
Two overseas-trained doctors have been prevented from taking positions at Campbelltown and Liverpool hospitals because the immigration department will not issue their same-sex partners with a family visa.
Frustrated health officials and the Australian Democrats have appealed to the Minister for Immigration, Amanda Vanstone, saying the decision exacerbated the chronic shortage of psychiatrists in public hospitals.
Both jobs were classed as "area of need" positions as there were not enough doctors willing or able to fill them.
"Given this situation ... discriminatory barriers, such as the non-recognition of same-gender relationships as de facto relationships for the purpose of granting a visa are inappropriate," a NSW health official said in a letter to the department.
The clinical director of Liverpool Hospital's mental health unit, Roger Gurr, said it was a major blow for south-western Sydney to lose both overseas-trained psychiatrists.
"Now the situation is drastic ... NSW needs 41 trainee psychiatrists to enter the system every year to provide the services - last year only 22 people were accepted into training. This year there was only 19. So there is an enormous backlog of vacancies."
Len Holt, the national president of the Migration Institute of Australia, said that unlike married or de facto heterosexual couples who were granted a four-year residency visa as a family, only the doctor being offered an area-of-need position was granted a long-term visa. Their same-sex partner could apply for a 12-month visitor's visa that must be renewed overseas and did not allow them to work while in Australia.
"The same-sex partners do not meet the definition of spouse, which in this day and age doesn't make a whole lot of sense," Mr Holt said.
It was not only doctors who could be caught in this situation - any skilled worker coming to Australia on a temporary visa would face the same discriminatory situation, he said. "In a time when we are faced with all manner of critical skills shortages ... it could result in Australia being denied a certain level of skills because of this."
A spokesman for Senator Vanstone said same-sex partners could apply to come to Australia under visitor's visas, or wait until their partner was granted permanent resident status and then apply for a longer-term visa.
The director of the NSW Institute of Psychiatry, Dr Louise Newman, reacted angrily to the decision. "It's clearly discriminating against people in same-sex relationships," she said.
=============================================================
http://www.proudparenting.com/page.cfm?Sectionid=65&typeofsite=snippetdetail&ID=1204&snippetset=yes//url
Michigan Preparing To Let Doctors Refuse To Treat Gays
(Lansing, Michigan) Doctors or other health care providers could not be disciplined or sued if they refuse to treat gay patients under legislation passed Wednesday by the Michigan House.
The bill allows health care workers to refuse service to anyone on moral, ethical or religious grounds.
The Republican dominated House passed the measure as dozens of Catholics looked on from the gallery. The Michigan Catholic Conference, which pushed for the bills, hosted a legislative day for Catholics on Wednesday at the state Capitol.
The bills now go the Senate, which also is controlled by Republicans.
The Conscientious Objector Policy Act would allow health care providers to assert their objection within 24 hours of when they receive notice of a patient or procedure with which they don't agree. However, it would prohibit emergency treatment to be refused.
Three other three bills that could affect LGBT health care were also passed by the House Wednesday which 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.
Opponents of the bills said they're worried they would allow providers to refuse service for any reason. For example, they said an emergency medical technicians could refuse to answer a call from the residence of gay couple because they don't approve of homosexuality.
Rep. Chris Kolb (D-Ann Arbor) the first openly gay legislator in Michigan, pointed out that while the legislation prohibits racial discrimination by health care providers, it doesn't ban discrimination based on a person's sexual orientation.
"Are you telling me that a health care provider can deny me medical treatment because of my sexual orientation? I hope not," he said.
"I think it's a terrible slippery slope upon which we embark," said Rep. Jack Minore (D-Flint) before voting against the bill.
Paul A. Long, vice president for public policy for the Michigan Catholic Conference, said the bills promote the constitutional right to religious freedom.
"Individual and institutional health care providers can and should maintain their mission and their services without compromising faith-based teaching," he said in a written statement.
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no subject
quiregrrl can you get cubboy to show you how to make a livejournal cut?
your posts are interesting but take up whole pages on my friends page - a bit difficult to pick what I want to read first
thanks
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Date: 2005-04-02 05:40 am (UTC)