Last September when the expectant mothers first met Dr. Vesna Roi at Eastlake Pediatrics in Roseville. She was recommended by their midwife. "We were really happy with her," Krista said. "The kind of care she offered, we liked her personality, she seemed pretty friendly. She seemed pretty straight up with us." The Contrerasas were told to make an appointment with Roi once Bay arrived. The baby was born at home and when she was six days old - they went in. But instead of seeing Dr. Roi, another doctor greeted them. "The first thing Dr. Karam said was 'I'll be your doctor, I'll be seeing you today because Dr. Roi decided this morning that she prayed on it and she won't be able to care for Bay," Jami said. "Dr. Karam told us she didn't even come to the office that morning because she didn't want to see us." The new mothers were shocked, hurt and angry. "It was embarrassing, it was humiliating and here we are, new parents trying to protect her," Jami said. "And we know this happens in the world and we're completely prepared for this to happen other places. But not at our six-day-old's wellness appointment."The couple finished their medical appointment and then immediately began searching for another pediatric clinic for their daughter.
They then began complaining on social media, which led to attracted lots of negative attention for the pediatric clinic. Dr. Roi reportedly sent a letter to the couple earlier this month and confirmed that she decided that she couldn't work with their daughter because they are lesbian moms:
Dear Jami & Krista: I am writing this letter of apology as I feel that it is important and necessary. I never meant to hurt either one of you. After much prayer following your prenatal, I felt that I would not be able to develop the personal patient doctor relationship that I normally do with my patients. I felt that was not fair to the two of you or to Bay. I felt that you deserved that type of relationship and I know you would get that with Dr. Karam. We do not keep prenatal information once we have our meetings so I had no way to contact you. I found out on the Monday morning that you were coming and I made the decision that it would be better for Dr. Karam to see Bay. I felt that it was an exciting time for the two of you and I felt that if I came in and shared my decision it would take away much of the excitement. That was my mistake. I should not have made that assumption and I apologize for that. I should have spoken with you directly that day. You were always welcome at the office and I assumed that you would continue coming to our office with Dr. Karam. Please know that I believe that God gives us free choice and I would never judge anyone based on what they do with that free choice.Except that she did judge them and determined their daughter unworthy of medical care based off what she thought of her parents. And she didn't believe them worthy of directly communicating her judgment. And she didn't judge them worthy of even trying to develop a personal patient doctor relationship because Bay's moms are lesbians. But it's okay because anti-gay discrimination is legal in Michigan. And because Jesus would turn away children from his medical practice -- if they had two moms.
Incidentally, this was probably an instructive lesson for this family. I am a strong believer in self-advocating -- especially when it comes to your kids. Whenever my sons needs a new day program or a new camp, I came right out and communicated that we have a two-dad household and that I wanted to know upfront if this would be a problem. Mainly because I don't want to invest a lot of time, energy, or emotion into an entity that is hostile towards gay families. I have better things to do with my time.