Incredible! And Great News!
September 26th, 2007 by MamaBearRemember Sophie Currier? The Harvard medical student demonized over and over again on her own blog and in other venues for pursuing her case against the National Board of Medical Examiners?
I blogged about it, despite having my own misgivings about the case, and I just couldn’t allow the other accommodations made for her to cloud my judgment on the matter. I believe the dyslexia and ADHD accommodations made for her were completely separate from any accommodations made for her state of lactation.
Anyway, she appealed the Supreme Court’s initial decision, and she WON!!! Yeah!!! You go, girl! I knew you could do it!! This is an incredible victory for lactating moms everywhere. This decision will have positive ripple effects the world over, as insignificant as it may seem now. The judge that overturned the initial ruling, Judge Gary Katzmann, surprised all the naysayers by making the decision. I don’t know the man, but if he can come to that conclusion, he must have a profound understanding of lactation and how it all works, way beyond what the average person knows, which is almost unheard-of. Whatever female influences he must have in his life must have done a good job of educating him!! (Or perhaps he took the initiative and educated himself? Either explanation is possible, and either way it’s unbelievable and welcome good news. :)) Whatever it is, I am in awe of Judge Gary Katzmann and his ruling, and, though I had no idea who he was before the ruling, he has earned my respect and admiration now.
Unfortunately, the National Board of Medical Examiners is reported to be pursuing the matter further, to try to appeal the decision made by Judge Katzmann (Why??? Why would they go out of their way to pursue this??? How does it hurt them to give lactating moms more time for pumping/breastfeeding???)
It is so good to finally have something good to report. Finally.
