Hey there Guys,

I was only two weeks ago I reported of the homophobic band of doctors “Doctors For The Family” in my report “Doctors In The Dark” with their submission that included Victoria’s Deputy Chief Of Psychiatry Dr Kuruvilla George against changes to allow equity to gay and lesbian people.

Sadly I know that homophobia is well and truly present in medicine, but when homophobic attitudes puts the life of a patient at risk my blood boils.

As reported by Joe My God:

New Jersey gay man Joao Simoes is suing his hospital after an on-staff doctor refused him his HIV medications. Dr. Susan Borja allegedly later told his private physician what the patient had done to become infected was “against God’s will.”

Further information of the case available from Courthouse News Service:

A gay HIV-positive man says in court that a hospital denied him treatment and visitors, as the doctor remarked, “This is what he gets for going against God’s will.” Joao Simoes sued Trinitas Regional Medical Center in Union County Superior Court. He says that the hospital admitted him in August 2011, but that “requests for his lifesaving medication were not honored,” and his sister was denied visitation rights.

Susan V. Borja, M.D., from the Department of Behavioral Health and Psychiatry, allegedly approached Simoes while he was confined to the hospital’s mental health wing. Borja is not named as a defendant.

To be honest I am unsure why Dr Borja has not been named a defendant having read the following…

[Dr Borja's] reaction was allegedly different when Simoes said that he did not work because he planned to go back to school and because of his HIV status. Borga then allegedly asked Simoes how he got HIV, to which he responded, “I got it from unprotected sex.”

The complaint then says that “Dr. Borga closed the plaintiff’s file, put it down and looked at plaintiff with disgust on her face and asked, coldly, “Is that from sex with men?”

Simoes says he responded affirmatively and that, “immediately after hearing this, Dr. Borga proceeded to exit the room.”

After this consultation, no nurse or doctor came to see Simoes, even though he told them that he needed to take his HIV medication, according to the complaint.

When the hospital finally permitted Simoes to call his personal physician on the third day of his stay, he learned that the doctor had already spoken with Borga about Simoes’ medication, according to the complaint. Borga allegedly responded: “You must be gay, too, if you’re his doctor.”  “Additionally, apparently realizing that plaintiff’s doctor had an accent, Dr. Borga exclaimed, ‘What, do you need a translator?’ to which plaintiff’s doctor had again responded that Dr. Borga needed to give plaintiff his HIV medication,” the complaint states. “Dr. Borga responded to plaintiff’s doctor by stating, ‘This is what he gets for going against God’s will,’ and hung up the phone on plaintiff’s doctor.”

A search of the NJ medical register was able to show that Dr Borja continues as a psychiatrist working at Trinitas Medical Centre.

I urge all people who live in the USA, in particular New Jersey to consider lodging a complaint to the NJ State Board Of Medical Examiners or by contacting their office via the State Board Of Medical Examiners here.

On a final note, if you are HIV positive and a doctor who is not your HIV doctor changes or stops your medications ask them why. If they do not give an answer that is satisfactory to yourself demand they contact your HIV doctor or the infectious disease specialist of the hospital. If that fails, ask to speak with management immediately. Any delay in treatment can lead to decline in health and development of resistance of treatment regimes.

I hope that this has been an isolated case and that this doctor is educated that her actions were homophobic, dangerous and morally wrong. If this is not able to be done I hope that the medical board may see fit to review her ongoing work as a doctor.

Yours in good health.

Dr George Forgan-Smith