Doctor say's Go elsewhere for healthcare

[Hgunner]

Obama health care supporters: Florida doctor tells Obama health care supporters to go elsewhere - OrlandoSentinel.com

MOUNT DORA — A doctor who considers the national health-care overhaul to be bad medicine for the country posted a sign on his office door telling patients who voted for President Barack Obama to seek care "elsewhere."

"I'm not turning anybody away — that would be unethical," Dr. Jack Cassell, 56, a Mount Dora urologist and a registered Republican opposed to the health plan, told the Orlando Sentinel on Thursday. "But if they read the sign and turn the other way, so be it."

The sign reads: "If you voted for Obama … seek urologic care elsewhere. Changes to your healthcare begin right now, not in four years."

Estella Chatman, 67, of Eustis, whose daughter snapped a photo of the typewritten sign, sent the picture to U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson, the Orlando Democrat who riled Republicans last year when he characterized the GOP's idea of health care as, "If you get sick, America … Die quickly."

Chatman said she heard about the sign from a friend referred to Cassell after his physician recently died. She said her friend did not want to speak to a reporter but was dismayed by Cassell's sign.

"He's going to find another doctor," she said.

Cassell may be walking a thin line between his right to free speech and his professional obligation, said William Allen, professor of bioethics, law and medical professionalism at the University of Florida's College of Medicine.

Allen said doctors cannot refuse patients on the basis of race, gender, religion, sexual orientation or disability, but political preference is not one of the legally protected categories specified in civil-rights law. By insisting he does not quiz his patients about their politics and has not turned away patients based on their vote, the doctor is "trying to hold onto the nub of his ethical obligation," Allen said.

"But this is pushing the limit," he said.

Cassell, who has practiced medicine in GOP-dominated Lake County since 1988, said he doesn't quiz his patients about their politics, but he also won't hide his disdain for the bill Obama signed and the lawmakers who passed it.

In his waiting room, Cassell also has provided his patients with photocopies of a health-care timeline produced by Republican leaders that outlines "major provisions" in the health-care package. The doctor put a sign above the stack of copies that reads: "This is what the morons in Washington have done to your health care. Take one, read it and vote out anyone who voted for it."

Cassell, whose lawyer wife, Leslie Campione, has declared herself a Republican candidate for Lake County commissioner, said three patients have complained, but most have been "overwhelmingly supportive" of his position.

"They know it's not good for them," he said.

Cassell, who previously served as chief of surgery at Florida Hospital Waterman in Tavares, said a patient's politics would not affect his care for them, although he said he would prefer not to treat people who support the president.

"I can at least make a point," he said.

The notice on Cassell's office door could cause some patients to question his judgment or fret about the care they might receive if they don't share his political views, Allen said. He said doctors are wise to avoid public expressions that can affect the physician-patient relationship.

Erin VanSickle, spokeswoman for the Florida Medical Association, would not comment specifically.

But she noted in an e-mail to the Sentinel that "physicians are extended the same rights to free speech as every other citizen in the United States."

The outspoken Grayson described Cassell's sign as"ridiculous."

"I'm disgusted," he said. "Maybe he thinks the Hippocratic Oath says, ‘Do no good.' If this is the face of the right wing in America, it's the face of cruelty. … Why don't they change the name of the Republican Party to the Sore Loser Party?"

[TripleDigitRide]

+1 for the Doc.

[Guest gts]

+1 for the Doctor in Florida with stones the size of Texas.

Sure hope the Board of Professional Responsibility in Florida isn't loaded with marxist or this doctor is going to be experiencing a nightmare very soon.

I like his approach. Maybe he figures his career is over with anyway and wants to go out with media bang.

[Hgunner]

+ 1 for the Doc here too.

[Guest uofmeet]

I like his approach. Maybe he figures his career is over with anyway and wants to go out with media bang.

Good possibility

+1 for the Doc.

[Hgunner]

+1 for the Doctor in Florida with stones the size of Texas.

Sure hope the Board of Professional Responsibility in Florida isn't loaded with marxist or this doctor is going to be experiencing a nightmare very soon.

I like his approach. Maybe he figures his career is over with anyway and wants to go out with media bang.

Personally I would not blame them if everyone of them closed their doors and walked off the job. That would really create a healthcare crisis now wouldn't it.

[Bigiron]

Finally, someone standing up to Zerocare. Good for you, Doc.

[Guest 6.8 AR]

He can say what he wants. The statement doesn't violate Hippocratic oath. The

health care bill does. You can't 'first, do no harm' if you don't see the patient. He doesn't

have to practice medicine, either. Grayson is a socialist buffoon and hopefully will be gone in November.

[ShamGlock]

Wish this guy could be my go to Doc!

[leroy]

Way to go doc!! Dont let them socialist weeenies push ya around! I'm sorry its too far to commute to Mount Dora so i can use him as a doctor!!

Kep up the good work!

Leroy

[Guest strelcevina]

so how do you see a difference ,who has Obamacare and who doesn't.

that say enough how dumb that doctor is

anyway did anybody try to write Obamacare and try to spellcheck it .

firefox wont's to change it to Macaroni:rolleyes:

[Hgunner]

????? You need top learn to comprehend and speak english.

This was a article about a doctor that told healthcare reform / obamacare supporters to find another doctor. He is within his legal rights as this is a free country and it is still his bussiness. I would predict that this doctor will have a flood of new patients if he wants them.

Funny my spell checker corrects obamacare to bottmless :poop:hole.

[USMCJG]

so how do you see a difference ,who has Obamacare and who doesn't.

that say enough how dumb that doctor is

anyway did anybody try to write Obamacare and try to spellcheck it .

firefox wont's to change it to Macaroni:rolleyes:

So you hate freedom of speech too. Not surprising.

[Guest 6.8 AR]

Big civics lesson due to strel.

That doc won't be practicing medicine when Obamacare hits. He's got more sense than that.

Edited April 3, 2010 by 6.8 AR
add

[dats82]

????? You need top learn to comprehend and speak english.

This was a article about a doctor that told healthcare reform / obamacare supporters to find another doctor. He is within his legal rights as this is a free country and it is still his bussiness. I would predict that this doctor will have a flood of new patients if he wants them.

Funny my spell checker corrects obamacare to bottmless :poop:hole.

LOL Love it.

I do commend the doctor for making a stand. However, as the article says, this is on the fringe with the ethics junk. There will be people who will most certainly try to grill his ass over this. Those people will most likely be people who are not nor were ever his patients. He will face repercussions over this, but we all know repercussions are coming regardless. He is really in a damned if you do, damned if you don't spot now.

With all that said, he does have my support regardless of what the libs have to say about it.

[Guest bkelm18]

so how do you see a difference ,who has Obamacare and who doesn't.

that say enough how dumb that doctor is

anyway did anybody try to write Obamacare and try to spellcheck it .

firefox wont's to change it to Macaroni:rolleyes:

I have no idea what you just said but I'm sure it was quite funny.

[Guest strelcevina]

So you hate freedom of speech too. Not surprising.

what does have hating freedom of speech do with anything i said.

wow:screwy:

[Guest strelcevina]

????? You need top learn to comprehend and speak english.

don't read it then. its free country

[Hgunner]

strelcevina-just what european 3rd world garbage bin did you come from?

[Guest strelcevina]

strelcevina-just what european 3rd world garbage bin did you come from?

that is like blaming Canadian for bringing a snow to Nashville.

No comments

[Hgunner]

that is like blaming Canadian for bringing a snow to Nashville.

No comments

What.....?

cents mak u no

[kb4ns]

What.....?

cents mak u no

Agree must I with do you...

[kb4ns]

Oh, and a big thumbs up to the doc. Thanks for sharing that story. Wish he'd come practice here!

[Guest strelcevina]

What.....?

cents mak u no

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[StPatrick]

... - --- .--. / .- -.-. - .. -. --. / .-.. .. -.- . / -.-. .... .. .-.. -.. / --..-- / .. - / .. ... / .- -. -. --- -.-- .. -. --.

I salute your effort to engage your critics head-on.