The New York Times is reporting on the case of Dr. Sophie Currier, a breastfeeding mother who has gone to court to ask for extra break time during her medical boards to pump milk. Apparently, since breastfeeding is not covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act, it is not a valid reason for being given extra break time. The medical boards, by the way, are a 9-hour exam. She has been given the same amount of break time as other test-takers and is allowed to pump breastmilk during that time in a monitored room with glass walls. (For anyone who has not had the experience of pumping milk, it is time-consuming and awkward, and if a breastfeeding mother does not do it, she will be in pain.)
While the board is unwilling to grant Dr. Currier privacy, they claim their privacy policy prevents them from commenting on the case.
The American Academy of Pediatrics strongly supports breastfeeding from a medical standpoint. Apparently, though, the medical profession does not support this recommendation for their own members.
The Times writes that “The case…is a harbinger of what could be a growing problem.”
Why does the Times think this will be a “growing problem”? Because more women are studying medicine! And because these future doctors are following the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendation to breastfeed!
Pesky women. Why don’t they realize it’s either motherhood or career but not both? Next thing you know, they’ll be demanding unreasonable things like maternity leave.
More info and an opportunity for action are at MomsRising.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment