Posted on 09/19/2007 3:31:31 PM PDT by SkyPilot
BOSTON (AP) — A judge rejected a Harvard student’s request Wednesday for extra break time during her nine-hour medical licensing exam so she could pump breast milk for her infant daughter.
Sophie Currier, 33, sued after the National Board of Medical Examiners turned down her request to take more than the standard 45 minutes in breaks during the exam.
She said that if she does not nurse her 4-month-old daughter, Lea, or pump breast milk every two to three hours, she risks medical complications.
Norfolk Superior Court Judge Patrick Brady said Currier has other options, beyond asking the board to change its rules for her.
“The plaintiff may take the test and pass, notwithstanding what she considers to be unfavorable conditions. The plaintiff may delay the test, which is offered numerous times during the year, until she has finished her breast-feeding and the need to express milk,” he said.
Currier, of Brookline, has finished a joint M.D.-Ph.D. program at Harvard University while having two babies in two years. She has been offered a residency in clinical pathology at Massachusetts General Hospital in November, but cannot accept it unless she passes the test. Her goal is a career in medical research.
Currier has taken the test once already, in April when she was 81/2 months pregnant, but she failed by a few points.
“The judge’s conclusion that there is no harm to a woman to putting her career off for a year is the basis of discrimination,” Currier said. “Men do not have to put off their careers because they are feeding a child.”
Her lawyer, Christine Smith Collins, said she would ask the state Appeals Court to hear the case and issue a ruling before Currier takes the test again next week.
Currier has already received special accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act for dyslexia and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, including being granted permission to take the test over two days instead of one.
In the lawsuit, she was seeking an additional 60-minute break on each day. The board cited the need to be consistent in the amount of time given to doctoral candidates and said other nursing mothers who have taken the exam have found the 45 minutes of permitted break time sufficient.
The judge said the board offered Currier several special accommodations, including a separate testing room where she could express milk during the test or during break time, and the option to leave the test center to breast-feed during break times.
Federal anti-discrimination laws do not protect nursing mothers. The Breastfeeding Promotion Act that is pending in Congress would protect women from being fired or punished for pumping milk or nursing.
“Where she’s disabled, we’ve addressed that under federal law, but this is something that is not a disability,” said the board’s attorney, Joseph Savage. “This means it will be somewhat more difficult for her to take the test, but there are a lot of people who face challenges in taking the test — childcare obligations, medical conditions that make it harder — and we just can’t change the test for everybody who faces a challenge.”
Why doesn’t she just do what most working mothers do and pump enough for the day. It stores in the fridge. Leave the kid with the dad and let him feed the little tyke.
Sounds like she is just looking for excuses for her fear of taking such an important test.
We steered clear of my wife the two weeks before her boards.
Currier has already received special accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act for dyslexia and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, including being granted permission to take the test over two days instead of one.
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oh man this is going to get weird
I had a bit of sympathy for the woman until reading this point. A dyslexic physician? I have a hard enough time reading their orders and notes as it is. If she is using dyslexia as a disability, then I am frightened by the possibility of transposed letters and digits for medication orders, etc.
Got a seperate testing room so she could nurse during a test.
Allowed to leave the test area to brest feed during the test.
Suing to get more breaks during the test she failed so that it will be fair and she will get to be treated like everyone else.
Why does my head hurt? I'll let the other Freepers point out the ten other obvious lunacies in this article.
The danger here is labeling breast feeding as a disability. Let’s be honest, the feminist agenda labeled pregnancy as a sickness to get paid medical leave equal to, say, a heart attack. If this case succeeds, breast feeding mothers will be suing under ADA.
Pregnancy is NOT a disease and breast feeding is not a disability.
And where is she going to dump the kids when she has to go to work every day?
Does the name Lawrence Summers mean anything to the dean of Harvard Medical School?
I saw the previous issues with her as well. This woman is a mess. She needs to just work on being a Mom and let the rest go. Having taken many stressful tests in two career paths that were just as important, I have little sympathy.
My family withheld telling me my grandmother had died two days before one crucial exam. It hurt, but I appreciated the concern and of all.
My wife pointed out the article to me and she said the woman sounds like "a nut."
She already is accommodated for dyslexia, ADHD, etc.
Even Harvard liberals have had it with this woman (which is amazing).
From the article:
Federal anti-discrimination laws do not protect nursing mothers. The Breastfeeding Promotion Act that is pending in Congress would protect women from being fired or punished for pumping milk or nursing.
Well, that will be the "Big Accomplishment" of our 11% approval rated Congress.
I can hear Pelosi shriek now: "WE gave you the RIGHT to breastfeed!"
I bet you all a diet coke this woman has a Lifetime Movie script already written.
Does the ADA offer special treatment for people with JPN Syndrome? That might be simplest. JPN stands for Just Plain Nuts.
I feel bad for the kid. This underslept lunatic (check out those eyes) is going to try to handle residency (24-hour shifts?) while nursing a young child. Her body will rebel, her milk will dry up. Is she going to sue someone about that, too? How about chilling out for a few years and enjoying your baby?
Or how about choosing another line of work? This one obviously doesn't suit you. A good lawyer can't make you a good doctor.
Guilty.
“The judge’s conclusion that there is no harm to a woman to putting her career off for a year is the basis of discrimination,” Currier said. “Men do not have to put off their careers because they are feeding a child.”
Somebody needs to explain to this MD/PHD where babies come from. She chose to have two during the last two years of medical school. Now she is shocked to see that after the baby shower and presents and ohhs and ahhs of friends and family that the little buggers are still there and require constant attention. Who knew?
“The judge’s conclusion that there is no harm to a woman to putting her career off for a year is the basis of discrimination,” Currier said. “Men do not have to put off their careers because they are feeding a child.”
Somebody needs to explain to this MD/PHD where babies come from. She chose to have two during the last two years of medical school. Now she is shocked to see that after the baby shower and presents and ohhs and ahhs of friends and family that the little buggers are still there and require constant attention. Who knew?
Amen.
Sadly, these people treat it like one:
And guess what is the "cure."
Did Haaaavad issue her a baby as part of her medical skrool ;-)
This fraud will never see a patient, but will be a professional expert witness for bogus litigation.
Now, now. More evidence is required, IMHO.
Not for me. She looks like this guy I know who is pretty cool. And funny as hell.
"I got the pump, Ralph."
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