[NAGDU] Refused at medical office

Fri Dec 21 14:03:39 UTC 2018

Thanks Keri. I really appreciate this story about your positive experience. Although there are unfortunately public accommodations out there that do not comply with the ADA, there are those that do and it's good to be reminded.

Melissa R. Allman
Senior Specialist, Advocacy and Government Relations
The Seeing Eye, Inc.
P.O. Box 375, Morristown, NJ 07963-0375 (mail)
10 Washington Valley Road, Morristown, NJ 07960-3412 (deliveries)
973-539-4425 ext. 1724,     Fax:  973-525-1081 mallman at SeeingEye.org  

-----Original Message-----
From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Keri Svendsen via NAGDU
Sent: Friday, December 21, 2018 8:53 AM
To: Melissa Allman via NAGDU
Cc: Keri Svendsen
Subject: Re: [NAGDU] Refused at medical office

Melissa,

Thank you. I know when I had surgery in 2014, and Bliss and I were still a new team still only a year old I was worried how she'd take it. I left her in the waiting room with my boyfriend whho she knew and liked. I also trusted him to sit with her.

My nurse prepping me in pre-op came in, and asked, is that your dog and your boyfriend in the waiting room? I replied yes, they are there because I wasn't sure if you guys would allow her here. He then told me of course she is allowed in here, let me go get them..

Though we had to put the bars up on the bed because Bliss jumped in the bed with me. I don't think she liked seeing mommy attached to a IV and heart monitor.

She was fine though when she could touch my hand through the bars with her nose, and she knew I was okay.

They had my girl there when I woke up too.

This hospital was extremely fantastic with me.

I hope this story gives some of you hhope. Though they don't have to allow your dog in places like pre-op, post-op OR, ICU, CCU etc some hospitals use common sense!

On 12/21/2018 6:40 AM, Melissa Allman via NAGDU wrote:
> Hi all. Marion does raise some very important points here. Below is a link to some information on our web site about the rights of guide dog handlers in health care facilities.
>
> http://www.seeingeye.org/knowledge-center/rights--legal-information/gu
> ide-dogs-in-hospitals.html
>
> One of the items referenced there is a self-evaluation checklist that health care providers can use to see if they are compliant with the ADA. It can be found at:
> http://www.afb.org/info/programs-and-services/public-policy-center/civ
> il-rights/advocacy-resources/ada-checklist-health-care-facilities-and-
> service-providers/12345
>
> I hope this helps and it is unfortunate that guide dog handlers continue to have these experiences.
>
>
> Melissa R. Allman
> Senior Specialist, Advocacy and Government Relations The Seeing Eye, 
> Inc.
> P.O. Box 375, Morristown, NJ 07963-0375 (mail)
> 10 Washington Valley Road, Morristown, NJ 07960-3412 (deliveries)
> 973-539-4425 ext. 1724,     Fax:  973-525-1081 mallman at SeeingEye.org
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Cindy Ray 
> via NAGDU
> Sent: Thursday, December 20, 2018 8:36 PM
> To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
> Cc: cindyray at gmail.com
> Subject: Re: [NAGDU] Refused at medical office
>
> It is a burden of the people in charge to ask if the dog is a service dog. If your answer is yes, then the next question is what service does the dog perform.  I hope you will all read Marion's message as it goes into considerable detail about this issue.
> Thank you.
> Cindy Lou Ray
> cindyray at gmail.com
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: NAGDU <nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Danielle Sykora 
> via NAGDU
> Sent: Thursday, December 20, 2018 7:32 PM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users 
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Danielle Sykora <dsykora29 at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [NAGDU] Refused at medical office
>
> Service dogs are not allowed in sterile environments; however, they must be truly sterile. Service dogs are not permitted in the OR or typically burn units where mask/gloves/other procedures are necessary. Exam rooms are definitely not sterile environments. Generally, if you can walk in with your normal clothes and shoes, your service dog can accompany you.
> I believe Peter uses a guide dog and his wife uses a non-guiding service dog, correct me if I’m wrong. Most service dogs do not wear guide harnesses, and it is unfair to say that a dog must wear a guide harness or discrimination is acceptable.
> Danielle, Thai, and Jackie
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
>> On Dec 20, 2018, at 7:19 PM, Sandra Johnson via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>
>> Peter:
>>
>> It is not uncommon to have medical facilities say a dog cannot accompany a patient into a sterile area.  This is not discrimination but patient safety. I recently had this situation.  My doctor and staff are all aware that I am blind and that Eva is a guide dog.  However, the medical proceedure was being done in a sterile area therefore Eva could not accompany me.  I was asked if anyone was with me that could watch my dog.  When I informed them I was alone several staff members eagerly offered to watch her while I was in the sterile area.  Second, the dog is your guide dog, not your wife's. Therefore right of access with a service dog laws would not cover her wanting your dog with her.  Finally you did not say your dog was in a standard guide dog harness.  If she is not in harness, how is anyone supposed to know she is a trained guide dog.  Anyone can buy service dog gear online so the general public and any medical professionals cannot tell the difference.  This is why I and many others feel a government issued ID card for professionally trained guide and service dogs is what should be done.  I am tired of all the fake service dogs making my life difficult.  I know in your case the dog is necessary but it is important for you to be sure she can be identified as a guide dog not a pet.
>>
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message----- From: Retina via NAGDU
>> Sent: Thursday, December 20, 2018 6:32 PM
>> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
>> Cc: Retina
>> Subject: [NAGDU] Refused at medical office
>>
>> Hi folks,
>>
>> Will the legally informed of you please advise me…
>>
>> My wife and I just went into an MD Aesthetician’s office to inquire about a procedure.  I had Metukah, and she had here service dog Kira.  On entering, the receptionist, instead of “hello,” said to us at the door, “Sorry, the dog will have to go outside”.  Andrea said, “She’s a service dog; by federal law she can he can be with me.”
>>
>> The receptionist called over another who took over.  She asked a few operative questions about whether she had advance paperwork for the procedure.  As she did the room temperature dropped.  She followed that that Kira could not accompany her into an exam room, “because they are sterile.” This was curious, because we had recently visited a physician in a clinic up in Portland, where were inquiring as well in case the procedure might be done up there.  They had no issue in the lobby, or in the exam room.
>>
>> In this case, when Andrea said in response that there should not be an issue and that by law she could accompany her in an exam room, (even if not specifically inside a surgical suite which might be understandable), frost formed on this receptionist and on the walls.
>>
>> My wife said to me that she was uncomfortable, picked up the paperwork, and we left.  Too bad, because this physician was a wonderful man and a great doctor who once saved her life with emergency surgery.  We knew that since his career change to skin, he’d probably be one of the best locally.
>>
>> We would like to do him the courtesy of writing an informational letter so that he learns what happened and has a chance to get his staff educated.  My wife said that she is considering filing a complaint with DOJ.  But before that, we should simply get clear information as it applies to this specific circumstance.  Can one of you who is clear on ADA with this specific type situation inform us?
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Peter
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> NAGDU mailing list
>> NAGDU at nfbnet.org
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for NAGDU:
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/sljohnson25%40comc
>> ast.net
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> NAGDU mailing list
>> NAGDU at nfbnet.org
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for NAGDU:
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/dsykora29%40gmail.
>> com
> _______________________________________________
> NAGDU mailing list
> NAGDU at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for NAGDU:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/cindyray%40gmail.co
> m
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> NAGDU mailing list
> NAGDU at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for NAGDU:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/mallman%40seeingeye
> .org _______________________________________________
> NAGDU mailing list
> NAGDU at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for NAGDU:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/keribcu%40gmail.com

--
Keri Svendsen

_______________________________________________
NAGDU mailing list
NAGDU at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for NAGDU:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/mallman%40seeingeye.org