Democratic Patients Has To Be Treated By Democratic Doctors?

THE DOCTOR IS IN
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LAS VEGAS - Hello America, and how is the world treating you?

Mount Dora Florida doctor Jack Cassell, M.D., a 56 year old urologist took politics and the right to health care to a whole new level by posting a note on his office door which read: ":If you voted for Obama - seek urologic care elsewhere. Changes in your health care begin right now, not in four years."

This doctor has been reported to be very active in Republican politics in Florida. It stands to reason that many of his patients are very upset.

Rep. Alan Grayson, an Orlando Democrat said the doctors move is "ridiculous" and "disgusting."

Dr. Cassell thinks he is expressing his "free speech" right. I totally disagree.
I say this is not a free speech matter. Dr. Cassell's professional obligation as a medical doctor is first:"Do no harm." I believe that the act of turning away ill, sick patients is doing harm.

This doctor believes he has a right to deny a person medical treatment just because that patient is a "Democrat".Wow!

I agree that doctor Cassell has an absolute right to state his feeling "vocally" about any legislation that is passed in this country and taking a side either "pro" or "con." He also has the absolute right to demonstrate and may choose to walk and carry signs in protest but to tell patients to seek medical care elsewhere because of that persons affiliation is wrong, very wrong.

I submit that if you take doctor Cassell's misguided act to extremes he can commit acts of refusing medical care to patients because he doesn't like their obesity; or refuse medical treatment just because a person may believe in the right to choose when it comes to abortion; or refuse medical treatment because he doesn't like the color of their skin, whether it be brown, black, yellow or red.

If doctor Cassell doesn't like the Obama health care bill he should protest by taking steps to legislate new laws through legal channels. Dr. Casssell is not the first person to dislike some type of legislation and he won't be the last. However, there are many legitimate ways to"verbally" express ones dissent and not harm others while still showing your disapproval.

My concern is why does the lawmakers allow such malicious acts as Dr. Cassell fall under the guise of "free speech." I would say that free speech clearly ends where the doctors oath begins.

Another concern of mine is, if Dr. Cassell is so upset and angry at Democrats and/or anyone who voted for a Democratic president, what does that say about the type of medical treatment Dr. Cassell or other physicians with the same views may provide a Democrat as a whole? Would that physician show less concern for a Democrats well being? Would the physician refuse any needed tests for the Democrat (or for whomever that physician felt didn't hold the same views as theirs)? Yet, because the person is a Republican and shared the same political and/or personal views of his or her physician would they in fact be treated differently and given better medical health care? It appears this may be true.

Who could trust and have full confidence in any physician once they make such ludicrous statements like the one Dr. Cassell wrote and posted in his office saying they will not treat a particular type of patient? How could any person return to any doctor for treatment knowing that the doctor has resentful, angry feeling against the person? I would think the patient could not be comfortable and assured that they would be administered the best medical care possible by that doctor for their ailment.

I would wonder that when any professional working in the health care field is so adamant about their feelings, especially about politics, and they take those feeling and project them to such lengths as Dr. Cassell did I would further suspect that there may be deep internal conflicts going on within those professionals - And, that's my opinion.

Bradley W. Kuhns, Ph.D., O.M.D.
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Dr. Kuhns can be reached by e-mail at:
bradleykuhns@gmail.com