dicrimination in hospital becuase I am a vegetatian and wanted to nurse

On August 30, 2001 I went in NYU Tisch hospital for a scheduled C-section. When I arrived there I was asked a series of questions two I which were clearly ignored:

Dietary requirements – I informed the nurse that I was a vegan but this was ignored. On the first two days after my section I was on a liquid diet, however for each meal I was given chicken consommé and jello – both of which I was not able to eat. When I complained to the resident doctor about this (she was a young female doctor whose name I forgot), she suggested that I have my husband bring in my food. This reply and treatment I found to be totally unacceptable I was being charged the same as everyone else and had to go through the extra expense of providing my one meals.

Formula or Breast – I informed the nurse on check in that I would be breastfeeding. When my daughter was born she had to go to NICU, I was not able for visit her until the following day, however on the night she was born I called and spoke with Emma or Emily and said I did not want here to be given a bottle that I was breastfeeding. The following day I was told that not only had she been giving a bottle but also a pacifier. When I was brought down to NICU I told the nurse that I want to breastfeed – the help I got was minimal – I was told on several occasion that I was taking to long and that I should finish up the feeding giving her a bottle. It wasn’t until the day before my daughter was being released that a different nurse (who is an absolute angel) let me take as long as I need to feed the baby and was so helpful, however with such little support and taking the baby home the following day – continuing breastfeeding was not an option and I ended up having to pump and then feed the baby via bottle. A consultant was not made available to me until my last day and then I only got about 15 minutes

My next complaint is about one of the nurses – Claudia in NICU. How she has managed to remain a nurse is beyond me. On one of the mornings she was on duty the nurse was late in bringing me down (I arrived at 9.45am) and so she took it upon herself to give my baby a bottle (even though I had indicated I was breastfeeding and called her to tell her I was on my way down.) So when I got there I want to hold the baby and she would not let me finally after a few minutes she allowed me – but said you can’t hold her long. After a short while she came back to me and told me I had to put the baby back in her crib – and I said I didn’t want to and she said I had to because once I leave it’s the nurses that have to deal with the babies. So I put the baby down and proceede to change her diaper and Claudia asked me what I was doing that the baby got changed before her feeding and was not due to be changed until her next feeding at 1pm (it was now approx 10.15am) I said no that the diaper is dirty and I am going to change – she basically would not let me until I got really upset and started to cry. This person should not be allowed deal with children or adults since she obviously can’t stand either.


I just got a call from the director of nursing and she wanted to know what my problem was and what I wanted - When I said that I feel I was discriminated against and that I should receive some form of compensation she said no and suggested I get an attorney. Where do I stand legally with this.

[JETX]

"Where do I stand legally with this"
Out on a very weak limb.... and I hear a cracking sound.

Sorry, but your complaints (and that is all they are) are NOT sufficient to warrant the cost of a lawsuit.

File your complaint with the hospital about what you perceive as poor treatment, you might even send a copy to any local consumer agency overseeing the hospital, but that is really all that you can do.

Your basic right as a consumer is that you can refuse to ever step foot in that hospital again. Heck, you can even tell your story to all your friends and suggest that they do the same. But, you really have little you can do otherwise.

Sorry about the bluntless (or callousness as you might see it), but your complaints really don't justify your spending the THOUSANDS of dollars in litigation.... with what I see as very little chance of any award).