I went today to get my exemption for my 2 kids. 6 yrs & 11 months.
After a 20 min wait in a room with a sign stating the health departments vision statement (which included treating clients & patients with respect) I was greeted in the waiting room with "You're the one who doesn't want to give any immunizations?" (Everyone else was called to the back by name. Not "So you're the one who can't afford to feed her baby?" or "So you're the one who needs free condoms?") I was taken to her office. The conversation went something like this:
"Tell me a little bit about why you're here today"
"I'm here to get a religious exemption to vaccination form my children"
"So you don't want to do ANY vaccinations?"
"Correct"
"Well, what do you plan to do to protect your children from these deadly diseases?"
"That's not something I came here to discuss. I'm here to get the religious exemption to vaccination form"
"So you just want me to shut up & sign the form?"
I laugh & say "Well, I wouldn't have put it that bluntly. I wouldn't tell you to shut up"
"Well then, how do you plan to prevent these diseases???"
"I don't intend to prevent all of these diseases, but that's not something I'm going to discuss with you. I discuss medical decisions with my children's doctors. I'm just here to get the forms."
"So you're declining vaccinations for religious reasons?"
"Correct"
"You're going to make this choice for them now, and when they're older, they can make whatever decision they want to???"
"Absolutely"
"And what religion are you?"
"You're not allowed to ask me that. I know for a fact that you KNOW that you're not allowed to ask me that."
Words can not describe the look she was giving me at this point.
"That's not true."
"Actually, you know full well it is. Would you like a copy of the current case law? I brought you one."
"Not particularly"
"Well, it's Curry vs. the Dpt of health if you'd ever like to look it up."
"I ALWAYS ask that & usually people are happy to share so we can discuss things."
"I'm not here for discussion. I'm here for the religious exemption to vaccination waiver."
"It's my job to talk to you about these things. Have you educated yourself at all???"
"Yes"
"And how do you plan to care for your children??? These are life threatening diseases!!!"
"Riding in a car is also life threatening. I've weighed the risks & benefits of that & I allow my children to ride in the car. That's not at issue here. I'm making this decision for my family. I object vaccinating for religious reasons."
"This is such a shame"
(Much paper shuffling & head shaking & looks of disappointment & disapproval) "Such a shame........ Of course, you know I disagree........ "
She asked me to spell out everything & asked for the SSN of my first son. I told her I didn't have it. She said she didn't think she could give me the form without it. I assured her that she could. She called someone to ask, and luckily the person was only one office away & I could hear her answer in real time. Then she said she only had one form and she didn't know I needed two like that was the last one in the building. I told her I was sure they had another one in the front. She went & got it. I took the forms walked to the front (she had to go around a corner to stamp one) She walked back out, into the waiting area full of patients and said very loudly "I hope you don't have to regret this" while shaking her head. I said "Oh, I won't" and she said "What a shame"
I am absolutely INFURIATED that this woman who works for my government that was FOUNDED on the principal of religious freedom, not only disregarded my faith, but did so openly, vehemently, and in front of other patients/clients/employees of the health department. She doesn't have to agree with me, but the law grants me certain rights & protections, and I feel that they were seriously violated by a woman who prides herself on regularly & repeatedly breaking the law - THEN TELLING PEOPLE THAT SHE DOES. I can not even begin to express my anger that I was told by a healthcare worker that my religious beliefs are shameful and that I should have the common sense to REGRET them!!!!!!! She has done this to others, and I was expecting a bit of contention, but I was not expecting to be treated with such disregard by a woman whose paycheck is written with my tax dollars. I expect more from my government & I want her to be held accountable.
I have filed a harrassement complaint with 909shot.com and I will be filing them anywhere else that I can. If you have a pointer, send it on. I contacted my attorney too. I'm not letting this drop.
After a 20 min wait in a room with a sign stating the health departments vision statement (which included treating clients & patients with respect) I was greeted in the waiting room with "You're the one who doesn't want to give any immunizations?" (Everyone else was called to the back by name. Not "So you're the one who can't afford to feed her baby?" or "So you're the one who needs free condoms?") I was taken to her office. The conversation went something like this:
"Tell me a little bit about why you're here today"
"I'm here to get a religious exemption to vaccination form my children"
"So you don't want to do ANY vaccinations?"
"Correct"
"Well, what do you plan to do to protect your children from these deadly diseases?"
"That's not something I came here to discuss. I'm here to get the religious exemption to vaccination form"
"So you just want me to shut up & sign the form?"
I laugh & say "Well, I wouldn't have put it that bluntly. I wouldn't tell you to shut up"
"Well then, how do you plan to prevent these diseases???"
"I don't intend to prevent all of these diseases, but that's not something I'm going to discuss with you. I discuss medical decisions with my children's doctors. I'm just here to get the forms."
"So you're declining vaccinations for religious reasons?"
"Correct"
"You're going to make this choice for them now, and when they're older, they can make whatever decision they want to???"
"Absolutely"
"And what religion are you?"
"You're not allowed to ask me that. I know for a fact that you KNOW that you're not allowed to ask me that."
Words can not describe the look she was giving me at this point.
"That's not true."
"Actually, you know full well it is. Would you like a copy of the current case law? I brought you one."
"Not particularly"
"Well, it's Curry vs. the Dpt of health if you'd ever like to look it up."
"I ALWAYS ask that & usually people are happy to share so we can discuss things."
"I'm not here for discussion. I'm here for the religious exemption to vaccination waiver."
"It's my job to talk to you about these things. Have you educated yourself at all???"
"Yes"
"And how do you plan to care for your children??? These are life threatening diseases!!!"
"Riding in a car is also life threatening. I've weighed the risks & benefits of that & I allow my children to ride in the car. That's not at issue here. I'm making this decision for my family. I object vaccinating for religious reasons."
"This is such a shame"
(Much paper shuffling & head shaking & looks of disappointment & disapproval) "Such a shame........ Of course, you know I disagree........ "
She asked me to spell out everything & asked for the SSN of my first son. I told her I didn't have it. She said she didn't think she could give me the form without it. I assured her that she could. She called someone to ask, and luckily the person was only one office away & I could hear her answer in real time. Then she said she only had one form and she didn't know I needed two like that was the last one in the building. I told her I was sure they had another one in the front. She went & got it. I took the forms walked to the front (she had to go around a corner to stamp one) She walked back out, into the waiting area full of patients and said very loudly "I hope you don't have to regret this" while shaking her head. I said "Oh, I won't" and she said "What a shame"
I am absolutely INFURIATED that this woman who works for my government that was FOUNDED on the principal of religious freedom, not only disregarded my faith, but did so openly, vehemently, and in front of other patients/clients/employees of the health department. She doesn't have to agree with me, but the law grants me certain rights & protections, and I feel that they were seriously violated by a woman who prides herself on regularly & repeatedly breaking the law - THEN TELLING PEOPLE THAT SHE DOES. I can not even begin to express my anger that I was told by a healthcare worker that my religious beliefs are shameful and that I should have the common sense to REGRET them!!!!!!! She has done this to others, and I was expecting a bit of contention, but I was not expecting to be treated with such disregard by a woman whose paycheck is written with my tax dollars. I expect more from my government & I want her to be held accountable.
I have filed a harrassement complaint with 909shot.com and I will be filing them anywhere else that I can. If you have a pointer, send it on. I contacted my attorney too. I'm not letting this drop.
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