
The doctor may be in. But some patients are out.
A Florida doctor who opposes the health care reform bill has placed a sign outside his office that says "if you voted for Obama...seek Urologic health care elsewhere."
Dr. Jack Cassell, a urologist from Mount Dora, Florida, is displaying a sign that also says "changes to your health care begin right now. Not in four years."
He says that though he can't turn patients away for having voted for Obama, because "that would be unethical," he can "at least make a point."
Cassell also told the Orlando Sentinel that if Obama supporters "read the sign and turn the other way, so be it."
Cassell did not immediately return TPM's request for comment.
See the sign here.
Late Update: On Fox News today, Cassell contended that he's "not refusing care" by putting up the sign.
eve cairo
April 2, 2010 1:01 PM
Go to the orlando sentinel website. Over 20k people are saying in a poll good for him. I would say I hope the medical board of the state would tell him he can't do this but then again it is in the South.
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Bwakfat
April 2, 2010 2:26 PM in reply to eve cairo
Well, I'd say Free Republic or some other rabid right group is blogging about the poll. My mom lives in Orlando, is a retired nurse, and mentioned to me that after she read about this she was so angry she had to take a walk.
It's a disgrace, and obviously this doc needs to see a urologist, he has his head stuck up his ass.
What a loser.
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tiowally
April 2, 2010 3:16 PM in reply to Bwakfat
A urologist can't help him, but a proctologist might.
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Pirate of the Caribbean
April 2, 2010 3:30 PM in reply to tiowally
Of course a urologist could help him! The guy's a dick!
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weezie.jefferson
April 2, 2010 7:55 PM in reply to Pirate of the Caribbean
LMAO!!
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lotl
April 2, 2010 9:48 PM in reply to Pirate of the Caribbean
A friend of mine in the medical profession said she's known several urologists who are dicks and said "must be it takes one to treat one."
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Bwakfat
April 2, 2010 4:17 PM in reply to tiowally
I er, stand corrected.
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glblank
April 2, 2010 8:58 PM in reply to tiowally
Howz `bout a Euthanologist?
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justaJ0e
April 3, 2010 12:04 AM in reply to Bwakfat
In a way he is doing a service to the local citizens by alerting them to the fact that he doesn't see everyone as a human being deserving of equal medical treatment.
I know that I would want to know if a physician was going to do less then the best he could, if he thought my political beliefs might be different then his on any given day.
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mJJ
April 4, 2010 5:47 AM in reply to justaJ0e
It also means that he could not practice in any emergency room that I have worked in. Turning away emergency patients is just not Kosher no matter his truly stupid denial of care based on politics. But in the end, even as a Republican, I would never go to such a stupid doctor. If a terribly ill pateint shows up at his office and he refuses emergency care, you better believe he would be in a heap of liability trouble. And, he knows who voted for Obama just how?????? This guy needs to run not walk to the nearest psychiatrist and get some help.
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ema
April 2, 2010 6:51 PM in reply to eve cairo
...I hope the medical board of the state would tell him he can't do this but then again it is in the South.
Unfortunately, it cannot and it has nothing to do with geography. As long as a hospital receives federal money (as an urologist, I assume he has privileges to at least one area hospital) he's protected under the Conscience Clauses/Church Amendments (emphasis mine):
III. Prohibits any entity which receives federal grants/contracts from discriminating (in employment, promotion, termination of employment, or the extension of staff or other privileges) against any physician or other health care personnel ‘because he refused to perform or assist in the performance of any lawful health service or research activity or activity on the grounds that his performance of such service or activity would be contrary to his religious beliefs or moral convictions, or because of his religious beliefs or moral convictions respecting any such service or activity.’’
Granted, this doctor's patients aren't women who need/elect to terminate a pregnancy and, as such, his patients' right to receive proper medical care matters. Unfortunately, this is what happens when you turn a blind eye and allow a segment of the population to be denied medical care based on a doctor's icky feeling in the tummy. The law of unintended consequences kicks in.
On the bright side, note that Dr. Cassell recognizes that it's unethical to turn patients away and has no plans to do so. Your doctor may own you but, at least in this case, he still adheres to some professional standard of care.
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Mary Alice
April 4, 2010 5:02 PM in reply to ema
When a person takes the Hippocratic Oath he or she swears to," keep the good of the patient as the highest priority." The would- be patient's politics is not mentioned in the Oath, on any level.
I saw this guy on Anderson Cooper and he was to his credit, very uncomfortable. The poor sad sack did say that he wasn't denying his service to anyone. The Tea Partiers will believe that because they must. He should have re-read the Hippocratic Oath before he put that sign up in the first place. I have a feeling it will be gone Monday.
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fla_kracker
April 3, 2010 7:41 AM in reply to eve cairo
Go here to see what his patients think of him. Not a lot apparently
http://www.vitals.com/doctors/Dr_Jack_Cassell.html#
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cwnidog
April 3, 2010 4:23 PM in reply to fla_kracker
Geez, a Caribbean medical school grad, with poor-to-mediocre patient reviews. I guess I'd look elsewhere for treatment without his needing to suggest it.
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Mary Alice
April 4, 2010 5:15 PM in reply to cwnidog
Was he one of the students Reagan invaded Grenada for, in order to save the Amerkins there from the no-see-ums, those vicious biting insects who can make themselves almost invisible?
Did Dr. Cassell really go to "medical" school there? If so, all is forgiven. He may never have heard of Hippocrates.
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The Ouroborus
April 4, 2010 4:00 AM in reply to eve cairo
They don't call em crackers for nuthin'.
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SchoolyT
April 2, 2010 1:03 PM
Sounds like the kind doc will begin a new career soon unrelated to health care (maybe politics?).
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SchoolyT
April 2, 2010 1:06 PM
Maybe people will test their urological systems on his silly sign.
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anna am
April 2, 2010 2:02 PM in reply to SchoolyT
This is a good idea.
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Professor Jeff
April 2, 2010 1:08 PM
His office phone # is 352 383 3773. It's been busy the last 20 minutes. I'll keep trying to let the good doctor know what I think of his professional ethics.
Complaints related to his medical licensing may be lodged here:
http://www.doh.state.fl.us/mqa/enforcement/enforce_csu.html
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CityGuy
April 3, 2010 9:32 AM in reply to Professor Jeff
So much for his Hippocratic Oath.... Or is it merely a Hippocratic Suggestion to doctors such as him (them)?
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eve
April 3, 2010 11:21 AM in reply to Professor Jeff
I hope a lot of 'patients' call for an appointment and then forget they had one.
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adoptedmainer
April 2, 2010 1:40 PM
This doc is not alone. When I asked some questions about the forms a possible orthopedist in Massachusetts for my husband wanted signed, he responded that he "smelled a Democrat" and in effect said he didn't want to treat such nasties. The doc in question is Peter J. Bregman in Tewksbury.
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Peter Principle
April 2, 2010 3:52 PM in reply to adoptedmainer
Well, at least he didn't tell you he smelled a Republican -- which would have been paramount to calling you a skunk.
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anna am
April 2, 2010 1:41 PM
I'm speechless.
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lousgirl84
April 2, 2010 1:49 PM in reply to anna am
Me too......a doctor no less refusing to heal the sick because of their party affiliation. Shouldn't his medical license be revoked????
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anna am
April 2, 2010 2:01 PM in reply to lousgirl84
I don't know who would do it. You need to (remember?) carve your initials in your patient's flesh during surgery before you anyone begins to make noises about taking your license away.
Doctors adhere to the code of omerta when it comes to their own kind. And I don't think the State could come at him for anything short of malpractice.
This is one crazy dude. I wouldn't want him anywhere near me with a catheter.
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lousgirl84
April 2, 2010 5:17 PM in reply to anna am
You bet he is and he has no right to have a medical license with that attitude.
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Economides
April 2, 2010 1:52 PM
So does he treat black folks, and would he prefer they go elsewhere?
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Joe Bob
April 2, 2010 1:57 PM
Agree or not, the good doctor is probably within his rights. Political affiliation is not a protected class under civil rights law. That said, a licensing board or professional organization the doctor answers to might have a different opinion of his conduct.
Between their political ideology and what’s good for business, most people choose the latter. If the doc has a different set of priorities, so be it. Let him act on his beliefs and accept the benefits or consequences as they come.
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AS
April 2, 2010 2:55 PM in reply to Joe Bob
Not true. Politcal affiliation is ok, but denial of care violates the hypocratic oath that all physicians are sworn to.
Should you be rejected for care, please contact the American Medical Association to file a complaint.
Be sure to have the evidence (phone conversation, hidden camera, emails, etc).
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lousgirl84
April 2, 2010 5:22 PM in reply to AS
That's what I'm saying. he can't refuse to treat people. That is a violation of his oath, and if it isn't it should be.
Oh how much I detest these folks. Unfortunately my brother and sister-in-law live in Florida and they are tea partiers (with lots of money). First thing my sisterinlaw said was we have good health care in Florida and I don't want Obama taking my health care away. I told her it was a lie and she said then why is that all I am hearing? I told her, keep listening to Faux News and you will never know the truth. I finally had to hang up on her. You cannot talk to these people.
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tytester
April 2, 2010 6:34 PM in reply to AS
Last I check the hyppocritical oath was not enforceable... Ha!
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mcjam
April 2, 2010 6:45 PM in reply to AS
Think you mean 'Hippocratic' oath.
Although, 'Misanthropic' oath might be more apropos for this douchebag.
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lotl
April 2, 2010 10:20 PM in reply to mcjam
Calling it hypocritical may have been intentional. I think for a lot of them it is, but then, I'm pretty cynical about the whole medical/pharma/insurance racket.
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Mary Alice
April 4, 2010 5:20 PM in reply to AS
You can add signs on doors to the list.
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synchronicity
April 2, 2010 2:02 PM
Sounds like a creepy doctor... who would 'want' to go to someone like that for care.... ewwww.
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Bruce Webb
April 2, 2010 2:04 PM
Wow that is a tactic not taught in any marketing class!
Please boycott me.
Hopefully it works great.
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lapdogs
April 2, 2010 2:32 PM in reply to Bruce Webb
Great place for a Pro-Obama Healthcare Doctor to "set-up shop" across the street.
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Nancy Irving
April 3, 2010 1:23 AM in reply to lapdogs
One would hope that other doctors who have referred patients to him in the past will not do so in future. As most of a specialist's business comes from referrals, this could hit him in the pocketbook, hard. And we know that the pocketbook is really the only part of the Republican anatomy that truly feels pain.
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EnnuiDivine
April 2, 2010 2:15 PM
Obama Supporters to Florida Doc: Have fun at the ethics hearing.
The doctor is within his LEGAL rights to refuse to offer his services to whoever he chooses. He also can't turn around and sue the state medical licensing board when they yank his license for being a complete asshole and violating his Hippocratic Oath.
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sbv
April 2, 2010 2:26 PM
no. 1) i wouldn't want to use any doctor, or frankly any service provider, who was against hcr. 2) how much do you think this specialist gets in medicare and medicare advantage reimbursements?
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GTFOOH
April 2, 2010 2:29 PM
A pissy Urologist? Go figure!
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DICKERSON3870
April 2, 2010 2:36 PM
RE: "See the sign here."
MY COMMENT: What a crappy, unprofessional looking sign this doctor has sloppily taped to his office door! Perhaps this urologist should have been a proctologist (or 'Assman', to borrow from a memorable episode of "Seinfeld").
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traunch
April 2, 2010 2:59 PM
3 Things:
1. This unfortunate and disappointing practitioner does not represent the views of most doctors. A study done last fall demonstrates that not only do most doctors support Healthcare Reform, they also prefer a public option.(sponsored by Robert Wood Johnson Foundation)
2. Cassell's patients rate him only 1.5 out of 5 stars in Patient Experience Ratings according to HealthGrades (a '...leading independent healthcare ratings organization.')
3. Cassell's "...lawyer wife, Leslie Campione, has declared herself a Republican candidate for Lake County commissioner...".
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RocketEngineer
April 2, 2010 7:29 PM in reply to traunch
Traunch? More like trounce!
Good research. Have you sent this to the muckraker?
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Jackster
April 2, 2010 2:59 PM
The "good doctor" chose the wrong specialty. I see a change to proctology in his future, that way he can be with his peers. ( with due respect to proct. Dr's everywhere). Staring into the brown eye everyday should be his future. Side note: I searched for a new Dr. online and found a very qualified Dr. who also contributed to R's in large numbers. I could not in good conscience go there. Obama voters deserve better and his services are not required.
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dUb
April 2, 2010 3:08 PM
"Please, tell me more about your political views while you hold my dick..."
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pmukh
April 2, 2010 3:31 PM
Say the first name and first syllable of his last name very quickly, with no pause, and you've got an approximation of what this doc is...
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dvoconnor
April 2, 2010 3:35 PM
If you are purely ethnically white, by such I mean a member of the white race, you speak English and nothing but, and you are a devoted adherent to an acceptable denomination of the Christian faith, please enter my humble establishment. You are my guest.
If you happen to be black, spanish, gay, an unmarried woman, a public school teacher, a member of a union, an arab, a muslim, a jew, an athiest, an immigrant, or otherwise an un-white, un-christian, I suggest you step far from this door, for these premises is protected by two fellas I know named Smith and Wesson. In the words of one of the greatest Americans ever placed on earth by the good Lord up above, go f**k youself.
And hoooo-doggy, please! No liberals! (No French people either!)
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xargaw
April 2, 2010 3:51 PM
Anyone Doctor that would openly discriminate against a sick person based on politics would likely also discriminate against a sick person based on other factors as well. Does he dislike minorities, fat people, certain ethnic groups, women, certain faiths, etc.? This guy is a first class jerk.
A few years ago I walked into an office of a doctor in our community that had tort reform posters and brochures all over his office (I mean on every surface you could imagine). We made a quick excuse, said we couldn't stay for our appointment and walked out. It was so apparent that this guy was more obsessed with tort reform than he cared about medicine or his patients. We knew before we even met him that he wasn't a doctor we wanted to entrust out health with.
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Joe Bob
April 2, 2010 6:58 PM in reply to xargaw
Wise move on your part to go elsewhere. If a doctor is obsessed with tort reform that means he views his patients as potential liabilities.
Must suck to be the doctor whose office you walked into. He spent all that time and money on medical school only to find that he hates patients. Most docs who feel that way have the good sense to become anesthesiologists.
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lotl
April 2, 2010 10:28 PM in reply to Joe Bob
It also sounds like he knows he's incompetent and maybe his record with the state's BOH proves it. Scary.
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lousgirl84
April 3, 2010 9:09 AM in reply to lotl
From what I;ve heard about Florida doctors, most of them are incompetent.
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psyclone
April 2, 2010 3:54 PM
Wow, what a colossal asshole, Cassell.
Then again, I'm not sure I'd even want someone who thinks that Glenn Beck et al. are reliable sources of information to be handling my junk in the first place.
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theginn
April 2, 2010 4:25 PM
On one hand I'm appalled. On the other, I'd be happy to know to stay away from this guy. I don't want anything to do with any doctor for whom my health is not the number one priority. I say let this guy go on doing what he's doing and let anyone who's stupid enough to go to him get what they deserve. A little natural selection is usually a good thing.
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John in Houston
April 2, 2010 5:13 PM
He's right. It's unethical.
File a complaint against him:
Florida Board of Medicine
Larry McPherson, Jr., J.D., Executive Director
Department of Health
4052 Bald Cypress Way, BIN #C03
Tallahassee, FL 32399-3253
(850) 245-4131/Fax:(850) 488-9325
Complaints Toll Free: (888) 419-3456
www.doh.state.fl.us
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swade518
April 2, 2010 5:23 PM
three crappy yelps and counting...http://www.yelp.com/biz/cassell-jack-md-mount-dora#hrid:XjYlyEMRjoL-UO1VywwlDA/src:search/query:Dr.%20Jack%20Cassell
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GTFOOH
April 2, 2010 6:15 PM
The great thinkers in Med School become Brain Surgeons. The dicks become Urologists!
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MiamiDude
April 2, 2010 7:16 PM
This guy's a real winner. First, he practices the most severe form of intimidation in a medical environment evidencing a deplorable, reprehensible, and entirely unethical medical standard.
But the real kicker is that, if we didn't understand it already from such behavior, he's unequivocally third rate: 1. after graduating from Rutgers in 1976, he could not even get into a United States Medical School. So, he deferred for two years and finally settled at St. George's University School of Medicine in GRENADA! - where it appears it took him FIVE years to graduate. 2. after that, it was one lackluster appointment after the other.
Anyone reading his own writings finds nothing but a bitter, bitter and sorry old man. Just what you want in a compassionate Physician, huh? Heal thyself first, idiot, then work on the healthcare system. Intellectually, "Doctor," you can't hold a stethoscope to President Obama.
Yet another twist to this scam: ... from the Orlando Sentinel cited article, page two: "Cassell, whose lawyer wife, Leslie Campione, has declared herself a Republican candidate for Lake County commissioner...." Just perhaps this is all part of a marketing and publicity campaign to garner attention for the wife's political objectives?
(A repeat of my post in the Comments Section of the original ORLANDO SENTINEL Article)
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Nancy Irving
April 3, 2010 1:43 AM in reply to MiamiDude
Isn't that school in Grenada the place Americans go who flunked organic chemistry twice?
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tamiasmin
April 2, 2010 7:22 PM
Guy could team up with Orly Taitz, DDS, and do dicks and mouths together.
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AE
April 2, 2010 7:46 PM
Yet another example of why the for profit motive of healthcare is an enormous mistake. This man should be paid a salary for doing his job and he should be fired if he refuses to perform that job. Right now I would say he should find another occupation just like pharmacists that won't provide birth control and gynecologists that won't provide abortions should not be allowed to practice. Go dig ditches if you won't do your job.
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ajibaji
April 2, 2010 7:54 PM
May he lose all his patients!
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crazycarnypoptart
April 2, 2010 8:35 PM
We can do something about this. Lets start a charity that will reimburse people's deductibles in that area if they go to a different urologist. Lets bankrupt his ass.
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amber
April 2, 2010 8:39 PM
Psycho. It makes sense that this unethical extremist went on Fox. D*cks stick together.
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des
April 2, 2010 8:42 PM
There is no Federal protection for this Hippocratic hypocrite; while many Republicans/teapartiers speak of a "moral" justification for their political beliefs, that won't stand up in court. He is simply pulling a publicity stunt to get his wife free publicity for her local council/commission seat bid.
Undoubtedly he's hoping someone WILL sue so that he can claim HCIR reform IS taking over medicine; with a resume such as his, he probably won't lose much when his practice collapses anyway...
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jonez
April 2, 2010 9:29 PM
Idiot.
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FreemanW
April 3, 2010 12:35 AM
". . .1978 class at St. George's University School of Medicine in Grenada, West Indies"
He is also apparently too good for medical school in the United States.
Loser indeed.
His book/Bio:
http://www.acornpublishing.com/urology.html
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RocketEngineer
April 3, 2010 4:37 PM in reply to FreemanW
If you read between the lines of his bio, it sure sounds like he has real problems getting along with others.
This kind of thing is pretty weird for someone trying to tout his expertise. The guy has some major issues. His 1.5/5 patient satisfaction rating speaks to his having issues with his patients too.
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eve
April 3, 2010 11:28 AM
I imagine that if docs can refuse to see medicaid or medicare patients, then they can refuse to see anyone.
I also think a lot of Republicans who aren't tea party idiots will also no longer want to see a fool who would put up such a nasty sign. People don't want politics at the doctor's office.
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NerdRage
April 3, 2010 1:55 PM
why don't a bunch of Obama supporters flood his waiting room, make appointments and then not keep them
or just flood his waiting room and sit there
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FreemanW
April 3, 2010 3:31 PM in reply to NerdRage
Or just flood his waiting room.
The smell would be odious.
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NerdRage
April 4, 2010 9:01 PM in reply to FreemanW
i see what you did there...
maybe someone should kick this doc in the urology dept.
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Furrball2
April 3, 2010 10:00 PM
A physician in private practice runs a business. No private practice physician, unless he is working in an emergancy department, has an obligation to take a person on as a patient if they don't want to. Once you are a patient, then there are very strict rules about how you can be discharged from a physician's practice without charges of patient abandoment. But any private business can chose who they do and do not do business with.
Before people start throwing the Hippocratic Oath around I suggest they read it. It does not require treating everybody who shows up at the door. Many medical schools now swear the Decleration of Geneva. Neither oath has any legal meaning what so ever.
A much more effective way to deal with this jerk would be if his referral base -- the primary care providers -- stopped referring patients to him. As a surgical specialist he can't bill insurance unless the patient is formally referred to him. If he can't bill, he can't be paid and he goes out of business.
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Mary Alice
April 4, 2010 5:01 PM in reply to Furrball2
When a person takes the Hippocratic Oath he or she swears to," keep the good of the patient as the highest priority." The would- be patient's politics is not mentioned in the Oath, on any level.
I saw this guy on Anderson Cooper and he was to his credit, very uncomfortable. The poor sad sack did say that he wasn't denying his service to anyone. The Tea Partiers will believe that because they must. He should have re-read the Hippocratic Oath before he put that sign up in the first place. I have a feeling it will be gone Monday.
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andyvillager
April 4, 2010 9:50 AM
if he were serious about his beliefs, he'd offer free vasectomy's to liberals.
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Mary Alice
April 4, 2010 5:33 PM
Can we just let the South secede?
Florida could take the lead.
They could start a whole new state
in Somalia. That sounds great!
There 33's the average life span.
There'd be no need for ANY health plan!
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Mary Alice
April 4, 2010 5:42 PM
If I were a nicer person I would feel sorry for Dr. Cassell.
But, as the Bible says,
"When you sow the wind,
You reap the whirlwind."
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jfields
April 4, 2010 7:17 PM
This cracker asshole better watch it. The sword he's using cuts BOTH WAYS.
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Tosh
May 13, 2010 8:46 AM
That's what I'm saying. he can't refuse to treat people. That is a violation of his oath, and if it isn't it should be.
Oh how much I detest these folks. Unfortunately my brother and sister-in-law live in Florida and they are tea partiers (with lots of money). First thing my sisterinlaw said was we have good health care in Florida and I don't want Obama taking my health care away. I told her it was a lie and she said then why is that all I am hearing? I told her, keep listening to Faux News and you will never know the truth. I finally had to hang up on her. You cannot talk to these people.
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