"Against God's Will": Gay Man Sues NJ Hospital For Being Denied HIV Meds

[intaglio]

49. I think the actions may be associated with religion but ...

Last edited Sun Jun 3, 2012, 10:36 AM - Edit history (3)

The whole report about the consulting doctor is dubious. If it is a Dr Borja (see below) then I find it unlikely that either a Child Psychiatrist or an Ob/Gyn would have any role to play in the treatment of an HIV/Aids patient. Because the Doctor concerned has not been indicted as an individual indictment I suspect that there may be an imposter at work, which might account for the misspelling.

Further information

Trinitas is a Catholic foundation and has had patient treatment problems before - sorry but the link is to Wiki (with all the problems) If others could research more deeply feel free. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betancourt_v._Trinitas

Ruben Betancourt of Elizabeth, N.J. was a 73-year-old retired machinist who suffered from anoxic encephalopathy, a form of brain damage, following successful thoracic surgery for a thymus gland tumor at Trinitas Regional Medical Center in 2008.[2] His doctors determined that he was in a persistent vegetative state, removed his dialysis port, and sought to impose a do not resuscitate order on him. In response to this decision, Betancourt's daughter went to court and sought legal guardianship of her father.[3] The hospital, which is affiliated with the Catholic Church, opposed her petition.[4] In court papers, Trinitas argued that "Mr. Betancourt is dying...and that dying is being prolonged by the treatment rendered." A trial court ruled in favor of Betancourt's daughter, finding that she was unquestionably a loving, appropriate guardian, and was also the unanimous choice of her family.[5] The hospital appealed the court's decision.[6] In contrast, Betancourt's daughter does not accept this diagnosis. "My father would turn his head," she told an interviewer. "One time I was joking, my father started laughing. How can you tell me a person like that is nonresponsive?".[7] When asked if Betancourt was suffering pain, a Trinitas doctor answered, "I know it. I've seen it." This calls the diagnosis into question, as pain is not consistent with the diagnosis of persistent vegetative state.[8]

I understand this denial of treatment is acceptable under certain interpretations of Catholic dogma.

Now to Dr Borga. Firstly There is no Dr Borga listed in NJ on You Compare. There are however 2 Dr Borja's listed. One is an Ob/Gyn associated with Christ Hospital, Jersey City; Dr Manuel Borja and the other is a Child Psychiatrist associated with Trinitas Hospital, Elizabeth; Dr Susan Borja. Both had their primary training in the Phillipines at University of Santo Tomas but I do not know if they are in some way related; another job for other researchers