Legal Discrimination?

An article in The Boston Globe, Board Won't Relent for Breastfeeding Mother, over the weekend defies logic to an extent. It’s not a black and white situation but it does highlight discrimination.

The article was about a woman, Sophie Currier, who’s getting her MD and PhD simultaneously. In fact she already has the PhD from Harvard and the only thing she needs to do before getting her MD is to pass a clinical exam. The exam, which runs nine hours long, is judged by the National Board of Medical Examiners. It allows a total of 45 minutes in breaks. So what’s the problem you might ask?

Well, Ms. Currier is breastfeeding her 7-week-old child and if she doesn’t pump milk from her breasts every two hours there are a myriad of problems that could arise, not the least of which is a very painful infection known as mastitis. She called the board to ask for extended breaks. She’s only asking for an extra 20 minutes a day. But the good old Board declined her request, based on the fact that the test rules only allow for “special accommodations” for disabilities outlined in the federal law known as the Americans with Disabilities Act. Naturally, breastfeeding is not considered a disability.

There are two things that are particularly mindblowing. First, one would think that, given all the scientific evidence in the medical field substantiating the benefits of breastfeeding, the medical board, of all entities, would “get it” and make the allowance. Ms. Currier is obviously a smart woman. Chances are, she’ll be a great doctor. I wonder what she thinks about the profession she’s going into? For that matter, what might women all over the country think, who want to become doctors and mothers at the same time? Secondly, as a woman, I’m particularly peeved because men would never be put in this dilemma.

It’s not like Ms. Currier is asking for a huge favor. 20 minutes extra. That’s it. The board maintains that there’s a lot of flexibility when it comes to scheduling the exam and that this is not the only time Ms. Currier could take the exam. Oh come on! Becoming a doctor is no easy feat and combining those years of study, and then a residency, with a PhD is even tougher. Ms. Currier has her reasons for wanting to have children now rather than during her residency. The board should exercise some of the flexibility it expects of others.