Belgian Doctor Refuses to Treat Elderly Jewish Woman

INN ^ | 7/31/2014, 4:25 PM

[Slings and Arrows]

We don’t have to take this passively:

washington@diplobel.fed.be

That is the email addy for the Belgium embassy in DC. Here’s my little note:

Excellent idea! Here's mine:

Dear Ambassador Verbeke,

I read with interest (http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/183567) how a Flemish doctor denied a 90 year-old woman treatment because she was Jewish. I am curious: Does your country also make its Jews wear yellow stars? Is this part of your nation's plans to rid itself of "useless eaters?" I ask merely for information.

Sincerely,
[Slings and Arrows]

[Fantasywriter]

Ouch, Slings—that one’s gonna leave a mark.

Meanwhile, I received an answer to mine. Fyi:

Dear Madam,

Thank you for your message about this incident, which has been widely reported in the Belgian media, and your concern for the Jewish community in Belgium.

The Ministry of Health has received a complaint and the prosecutor has been seized of the matter. Our authorities are determined to prosecute and punish acts inspired by racism, xenophobia and anti-Semitism, as specified by the Belgian law ( in particular the law dd. 30.4.1981).

Best regards

etc.

[Slings and Arrows]

> Ouch, Slings—that one’s gonna leave a mark.

And I thought that I was the very soul of tact. ;^)

Thanks for posting your reply. Looks like the powers-that-be have realized that this one is not going to fade away.

[Gefn]

Slings, this is brilliant!

Writing the email now.

[Slings and Arrows]

Thankyewvrmuch.

[Fantasywriter]

‘And I thought that I was the very soul of tact.’

Lol. It was tactful but searing; I give it 5 stars+.

The official reply sounded good & all, but you know that doc wouldn’t have acted so egregiously out of context. I.e.: if Belgium were fostering an environment in which anti-Semitism were not tolerated, he wouldn’t have been so brazen. Otoh, when you feel the sentiments of the entire country, esp. the political class, is behind you, there is no need for subtlety, as we saw in this instance.

In my reply to the embassy I said I would be following the case closely, to see what if anything happens to the doctor. That is the crux of the matter. Will they throw the book at him, or let him off with barely a wrist slap.

We shall see.

[Slings and Arrows]

Thank you.

It’s a classic shame vs guilt situation - IMO, they’re more worried about being caught doing evil than the evil itself.

Keep the light shining and watch the cockroaches scurry.

[Fantasywriter]

’ they’re more worried about being caught doing evil than the evil itself.’

Couldn’t agree more.

[HusbandMan]

OMG, how I miss RR! Think how things would be if he we in charge today.

Sadly, probably not so good. The man did lose his mind before he died.

[afraidfortherepublic]

Naturally, I meant “in charge” when he still had charge of his wits!