Nursing mother's request denied

Here's some of my thoughts on this one:

If you read through the complete article, you find these few notes:

Miss Currier has already received special accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act for dyslexia and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, including being granted permission to take the test over two days instead of one.

along with:

The judge said the board offered Miss Currier several special accommodations, including a separate testing room where she could express milk during the test or during break time, and the option to leave the test center to breast-feed during break times.

Which make it seem, to me, that Miss Currier is trying to work every possible angle when it comes to getting through this test.  While I'm not trying to minimize her disabilities (or should I say 'different abilities to be politically correct???), I'm saying that at some point you've had enough accomodations and asking for more just seems to be TOO MUCH.

What will Miss Currier do when she becomes a resident and has to perform under pressure, work long shifts, and not necessarily get regularly scheduled breaks (depending on the work load in the hospital she'd go to work at)?  Demand that the world around her stops so that she can catch up for an extra 60 minutes?

The second paragraph I quoted describes multiple special accomodations that were offered.  All seemingly quite reasonable (though I admit, if she were to use time to breast feed during the exam she may find her mind occupied with one event while trying to get through the other).

So, again, I'm back to having to figure out how much is too much when it comes to making accomodations for this individual, and what kind of precedent would it set for others in the future.  In this case, for me, it seems that the judge got the decision right.  Whether or not it'll stand up to appeals that are surely going to come is another question though.

It's not like she *has* to pump that often.  Yeah, it is uncomfortable to wait, but I guess that is something that she needs to decide.

It's amazing how many special treatments that people ask for.  She's taking a medical licensing exam- I think she may not be cut out for the medical profession if she can't figure out how to get through a 9 hour exam with 45 minutes of break time no matter what her circumstances are.  Come on, it's one freakin' day.

It's amazing how many special treatments that people ask for. She's taking a medical licensing exam- I think she may not be cut out for the medical profession if she can't figure out how to get through a 9 hour exam with 45 minutes of break time no matter what her circumstances are. Come on, it's one freakin' day.

Actually for her it was already spread out over *two* days, which has me thinking all the more that she's already getting a lot more opportunity than many others may get.

The thing about this case is, she is ALREADY receiving special treatment. They're dividing the test up over two days. She's asking for INCREASED special treatment.

Meaning a 4 1/2 hour test, with 45 minutes of break time, is not sufficient for her to express milk. That's flat out BS, and I'm sure many nursing moms would agree with me on this.

Ok, honestly I think this woman is probably hamming it up, however...

9 + hours w/o expressing milk when you have a 4 month old CAN be dangerous. A clogged duct can result, leading to mastitis which is living hell. It's not just comfort during the exam that has to be considered (although painful engorgement would probably distract her as well).

She also needs to nurse frequently to keep her supply up. If her breasts go 9 hours without expressing milk her body assumes she does not need to make so much milk and it starts a dangerous cycle where her daughter may end up not getting enough to eat. Supply issues can be very difficult to resolve and it could lead to premature weaning.

If she is taking the test over a period of 2 days and she is being given the opportunity to nurse or express milk during breaks then she is probably asking too much.

But 9 hours without expressing milk is sincerely a problem for a woman nursing a young infant.

If it were 9 hours, I would agree, TW. The thing is, it's not 9 hours because it's split up over two days, and she DOES have break times within those test times.

If it were 9 hours, I would agree, TW. The thing is, it's not 9 hours because it's split up over two days, and she DOES have break times within those test times.

And to follow-up again, the test givers were offering other opportunities as well which would keep the times between opportunities to express or nurse the child down even more.

Hence why I said the above.

"The judge"s conclusion that there is no harm to a woman to putting her career off for a year is the basis of discrimination," Miss Currier said. "Men do not have to put off their careers because they are feeding a child."

This is true, and has nothing to do with any law that man can make.  It is a fact of nature.  Whether it is fair or not is not really up to men to decided since at this time, it cannot be changed.  That alone would prompt me to tell her to appeal her case to the one who originally created the situation, and not blame those that have no control over it.

Mmmm...misogyny!

"The judge"s conclusion that there is no harm to a woman to putting her career off for a year is the basis of discrimination," Miss Currier said. "Men do not have to put off their careers because they are feeding a child."

She CHOSE to nurse. She CHOSE to take this exam. Deal with it. She is getting more than enough time to express milk. She can increase pumping before and after and contrary to popular belief, you can go 4 1/5 hours and then nurse/pump for 45 min and express enough to get through another 4 hours. We can debate right and wrong, but personally, I would be hesitant to trust my life with someone who can't figure out how to get through an exam. Working moms do it all the time and she *once again* CHOSE to take this course of action. Her personal choice does not require anyone else to jump through hoops to accommodate her CHOICE.

That was my thought as well, LH. They have bent over backwards to accomodate this woman (actually, the test is split up over two days, with breaks on each day, and they have allowed her to go to an area where she can express her milk, so we're actually only talking about 2-3 hours, which is...umm...a normal feeding interval actually). If this woman can't pass her boards without a gazillion accomodations, I don't want her as MY doctor.

Yes, I can operate on you, but I'll need a break every fifteen minutes, and the operation will be over two days instead of one.

Yes, I can operate on you, but I'll need a break every fifteen minutes, and the operation will be over two days instead of one.

, great way to drive the point home.

As someone with A LOT of knowledge (and a fair amount of personal experience) with breastfeeding, I am going to contest LH's claims.

Some moms have no trouble pumping. Some moms have no trouble with supply issues. Some babies have no problems with nipple confusion.

Each nursing relationship is so different, and stress INHIBITS let-down. It sounds to me as though they are being very accommodating and the student in question is probably pushing her luck, however, I will stand beside any woman fighting for rights for nursing mothers.

Maybe she shouldn't be a doctor because she's a nursing mother? WTF?!!?

Breastfeeding is something that our government and our society should encourage. She is making the best choice for her infant, a choice that will benefit society through the benefits to the child, and she should be applauded, not discouraged.

Let's make breastfeeding an appealing choice for mothers, not one that subjects them to ridicule and roadblocks.

Like many others with special needs, she isn't asking for special considerations to make it possible, she is asking for personalized treatment that nobody else is entitled to. She is already offered a private room in which to do her test. I wonder why she can't nurse while taking the test?

Exactly. It just feels like the sense of entitlement has spread to nursing Moms. Yes, nursing Moms have rights - a lot of them. I agree they should have breaks for nursing or pumping. But she's already got breaks. The test is over two days. She's got accomodation. She's got special treatment. Wanting double the special treatment is not fighting for your rights, it's taking things too far. It hurts the cause, not helps it.