Is it wrong for a doctor to deny care to a child because of the appearance of the child's parents?

Question

There is a pediatrician that denies care to certain children if the child's parents have tattoos or piercings.

http://www.healthbolt.net/2007/02/16/christian-pediatrician-turns-away-child-because-of-parents-tatoos/

I think this is very wrong-- First, it's a child...shouldn't we always help a kid given the chance? Secondly, how can you punish the child for the parent's deeds? Third, people with tattoos and piercings aren't any different from the rest of us. And I know plenty of Christians with tattoos and piercings.

What's next-- denying care to white kids because they have black adoptive parents or vice-versa? Letting a child die in an emergency situation because the parents are "undesirable"? Where does this end?

I am all for freedom of religion...but denying a child care just seems wrong for someone claiming to be Christian. As does judging someone based on appearance.

What do you think?

Answer 1

Unfortunately, as a private physician, it's a private business, so he can, in fact, discriminate in this matter. If it had been in the public realm, there is no way that could happen.

By no means does that mean we have to agree....

However, everyone judges on appearance ALL the time!

Answer 2

He isn't an ER doctor so he actually doesn have the right to choose his patients... A doctor who owns their own private practice has the right to choose to take on a patient or not. Do i agree with him .. No ... but he does have the right.. it is legal. now if an ER doctor did that .it would be a different story ..

Answer 3

I have tattoos and have never encountered such a thing. I may just be lucky? I have wonderful health insurance though.

Answer 4

All I have to say is the child is the innocent because it didn't pick who its parents were going to be.

Answer 5

That is messed up, but she should have driven to the ER after she was refused,not allowed her child to spend the night in pain.

I think it's f*ed up a doctor has a sign and policy like he's running f*ing restaurant.

Answer 6

yes its against the law for 1 tattoos are just art piercings are body art and a loony can wear a suit ?   i would not bother with that doctor as his going to be a complete prat to start with .......................  but yes as a mum of a child with down syndrome  and a tattooed son with lots of piercings and his a lovely man ..not a child that would go out his way to help  i no how fxxxxx sad some people are for treating them like c**p .. i would have no qualms in reporting the doctor at all

Answer 7

Didn't Christ want us to love and care for all people despite the way they look?  I don't know where this doctor gets his teachings of Christ from, but the guy who died for us and our sins loved everyone and cared for everyone and even healed those who no one would go near.  Now I can understand an informal dress code (like as a suggestion, b/c u can't really enforce it) , but still you don't plan emergency doctors visits, so you come how you are dressed from where ever you are.  I do not approve of visible tattoos and piercings other than 1 or 2 piercings in each ear, but I'm not gonna refuse service to someone b/c of their choices and how they choose to look.  If the other kids don't see people who are different from them in the doctors office, that doesn't mean they wont see them at school or at the mall or park--you can't ban people who are different from you from all parts of society, kids need to grow up knowing to respect everyone, even if they dress differently or look differently.  Everyone is different and chooses to express themselves in different ways, we may not approve of another person's decisions, but we can't keep them completely out of our lives.

Answer 8

That is entirely unprofessional and unethical! Doctors do not become doctors to pick and choose patients! Next doctors wont treat kids whose parents use the wrong kind of soap! Ridiculous. All children, and adults alike deserve competant care. Frankly though, this man does not seem like the type of doctor I would want treating my kids, so it is a blessing in disguise.

Answer 9

yes its wrong,and despite what religion they are they take a oath as medical professionals.If there is a doctor denying care to a child,because of the appearance of the  parents.They should either go to jail,or have their license to practice medicine taken away.

That's disgusting,and there isn't any religion that embarrasses such behaviors.

Answer 10

In the past, tattoos and piercings used to mean "bad news", but these days they're so common and mainstream that it's impossible to lump everyone with them into a category. (Heck, more and more employers are even starting to accept people with tattoos and piercings, which tells me they're seen as fairly normal and harmless now.) However, even if this weren't the case, it's no reason to deny a kid health care. What is he trying to do, somehow punish the parents for choosing to look a certain way? This is truly sickening.

Answer 11

I never knew this existed...how sad :(

Answer 12

its absolutely wrong! and if i'm not mistaken, isnt it illegal?! it's outrageous

Answer 13

Any doctor that denies a child care for how their parents look is an idiot he must have taken the hypocrite oath and confused it with the Hippocratic Oath.People thought Jesus was weird too and they crucified him for it.