Transgender woman refused treatment at Indiana hospital

Erin Vaught went to Ball Memorial Hospital in Muncie, Indiana two weeks ago for medical care for coughing up blood. But what began as a scary health symptom turned into a complete nightmare: not only did hospital staff ridicule her during the two-hour wait to see a doctor, but was thereafter denied treatment because she is transgender. Via the Chicago Tribune:

Vaught said when she, her wife and son went to the ER on July 18, she was entered into the hospital computer system as male despite an ID that stated she was female.

“I pointed out that my ID says female,” Vaught said. “There were two ladies there, and one of them snickered a little bit and covered her mouth. The other got a very annoyed look on her face.”

When she went to the exa- room, 3he was met with stares and insults and was referred to as a “he-she,” an “it,” and a “transvestite.”

Vaught said she was kept waiting for two hours without any treatment before a doctor saw her and said she couldn’t treat her because of her transgender condition.

“I was confused,” Vaught said. “I told them I didn’t know my condition, that’s why I was there. She said ‘No, the transvestite thing.’

Since then, advocacy groups like the Indiana Transgender Rights Advocacy Alliance and Indiana Equality have been filing complaints at the hospital, in which hospital president Michael Haley has only stated that, “should there be any merit to the concerns expressed in the comments, the Hospital will respond in the appropriate manner,” adding that Ball Memorial is “committed to providing care with respect, dignity and courtesy.”

From the sound of it, I think I’d have to strongly contest that. You should too.

Erin is now bring treated at Indianapolis hospital.