Catholic Death Panels -- Denying Medication to HIV Positive Patient?

[Roscoe]

Posted: 6/4/12 at 3:54pm

Read the below and feel the rage. A NJ hospital denied HIV medication to a gay man for "going against God's Will."

These are the death panels they really want.

Edit -- I've got some doubts about this, but I'll leave it up regardless. If it turns out to be unfounded, I'll mark the thread for deletion. Fair enough?


Catholic Hospital Denies HIV Medication to Gay Man for Going Against God's Will

Updated On: 6/4/12 at 03:54 PM

[ErikJ972]

Posted: 6/4/12 at 4:09pm

I did an internship at Trinitas when I was in grad school and I can tell you for certain that is not hospital policy. I still work with them a lot through my job and would be pretty shocked to find out this story is true.

[Kad]

Posted: 6/4/12 at 4:17pm

If it does prove true, this is a very serious charge. It's discriminatory and extremely unethical.

[ErikJ972]

Posted: 6/4/12 at 4:22pm

Having had a chance to read the article more thoroughly it's pretty clear there is no way that it's true. He was in the psych ward. They would have daily rounds to discuss his treatment that would include talking to his primary care physician. So even if there was one crazy doctor there is no way the treatment team would deny medication for days like reported. Trinitas is a very busy, urban hospital. They deal with hiv patients all the time. Especially in the behavioral health unit.

[Roscoe]

Posted: 6/4/12 at 4:25pm

We'll see, of course. I'll admit to having some doubts on second and third thoughts.

Updated On: 6/4/12 at 04:25 PM

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 6/4/12 at 4:49pm

When I read about this this a.m., it didn't seem to add up. Of course, anything is possible. But I'm really not ready to jump to any conclusions with the info we have so far.

[SNAFU]

Posted: 6/4/12 at 5:46pm

I read through this and yes, I had a knee jerk reaction. Then when I thought about it the more I began to question. When my Life partner Kevin went in to Saint Vincent's in 93, it was strictly a Catholic Hospital. Councillors were forbidden talk of safer sex or condoms by hospital religious rules. Couldn't really discuss Gay sex at all other then abstinence.
However, the AIDS patients were taken care of with all the professionalism and courtesy that could be expected. Heck, they allowed dying patients to be visited by their dogs! I as caregiver partner, was pretty much allowed to move into his hospital room.
Yes there were judgmental staff who could be heard mumbling stuff, however if a complaint was filed it was taken up by management immediately. I know, I filed a couple of complaints!
Kevin's treatment was taken care of by a team of doctors and nursing staff, each having a say. His primary care physician (who remains my doctor to this day would not allow any of this type of treatment.
I will wait for the full story to come out but I remain dubious that this account is entirely true.

Updated On: 6/4/12 at 05:46 PM