It was just recently announced by a medical center that they will not provide care to people who use “unwelcome words.”
Milford Regional Medical Center recently said they would be changing their rules about their “inclusive environment.” This means that patients who use “unwelcome words” like racist, sexist, or disrespectful words could be turned away from the hospital.
The medical page’s YouTube channel has a movie by Dr. Peter Smulowitz that talks about their thoughts on this new change. He told the watchers that people on staff and people who are sick should both be responsible for what they do and say.
At the beginning of his YouTube video, Smulowitz said, “Everyone should expect a safe, caring, and welcoming space in all of our places.” This goal is helped by our code of behavior for patients and visitors. Being rude, racist, biased, aggressive, or harassing with your words or actions is not okay and will not be accepted.
He did keep giving more specific examples of the kinds of language they would no longer accept in their work. He said things like making offensive comments about someone’s race, ethnicity, accent, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or other personal traits; refusing to see a clinician or other staff member because of these traits; being mean or aggressive, making threats or assaults, or using sexual or vulgar language or actions; and getting in the way of another patient’s care or experience.
As the video finished, the doctor told the viewers that they would be told if something like this happened before their care at the medical practice was cut off. Smulowitz began, “You will be given a chance to explain your point of view if we think you have broken our code with rude words or actions.” Before making any decisions about future care at Milford Regional, we will always give your answer a lot of thought.
Patients may be told to go to a different hospital for their care if they are found guilty of this at the Milford Regional Medical Center. When this happens again, they said they would look into future non-emergency care and visiting rights as well, in case this becomes a problem for them.
