Pump It Up: Breastfeeding Mom Goes To Court Over Exam
The National Medical Board has refused to give Sophie Currier additional break time during her nine-hour clinical knowledge exams so she can pump. Currier also requested a private room for the lactatin’, but the board says she can use another testing room and the 45-minute breaks everyone else gets to express herself. The rooms have big windows to ensure no cheating goes on–so while Applebees doesn’t wanna see your boobs, the Medical Board practically requires it. The mom of a four-month-old is taking the board to court. Currier did get some additional test time (she can take the test over two days) because of disabilities–dyslexia and ADHD. But nursing won’t cut it for the docs.
Okay, so the lawsuit is one way to go about it, and I have to say, as someone who in another career advocated for disability accommodations, I still don’t get how additional break time really gives anyone an unfair edge. I mean, if you know the material, you know it, and unless Currier claims she needs to bring in a photo of her baby pasted to a medical textbook in order for her milk to let down, I doubt she’ll get any real benefit from the breaks other than the one she needs: a please-don’t-let-me-have-exploding-milk-ducts break. But you know what I’d like to see? Have her go in to talk to the board in person, and when they turn her down, she could whip out her boobs and spray them all Rambo-style. Take that! Now that would be in-your-face lactivism.
Photo from the New York Times.
Last week a Massachusetts Supreme Court judge overturned the decision that denied Sophie Currier additional break time to pump during her medical board exams. The more attentive among you may actually remember that Currier was initially refused in her
I think Currier is a whiner – the type who complains about everything. I know plenty of people like this and they make me roll my eyes. I read a bit on this story in the Boston Globe and the WSJ… Somewhere it said she would have the opportunity to take the test at a later (but within a reasonble time frame) date. Why is she so stubbornly insisting on taking the test when her kid is seven weeks old? (I read the kid is seven weeks old, but maybe that was an error.) I’ve worked/pumped/breastfed… I also have had a realistic outlook on the first few months. For the first four months of any of my baby’s lives I didn’t do much. I worked (and pumped) and took care of the baby. I sure didn’t sign up to do any activity for two consecutive days (nine hour days!) away from the baby at that early juncture. I’m not faulting a person who goes away from baby for two straight days in early infancy, but I think it is reasonable for that person to understand what compromises she is making and deal with it. Currier is being given a lot of leeway here. I am a huge proponent of breastfeeding rights, and I think Currier has been granted plenty of rights in this situation.
Hi all. I am not a new mom, but I happen to work for the NBME, and I just wanted to reiterate the point that is really at the crux of this matter. Yes, she is breastfeeding; many lactating women have taken this exam before without incident, without being allowed to leave the testing center for pumping during breaks, or without being allowed to bring multiple assembled pumps to pump with DURING the exam into her private exam room, both of which Ms. Currier is being allowed to do. And yes, she has learning disabilities; she is already being given special accomodations that have nothing to do with her breastfeeding and therefore already put her on a level playing field with everyone else. But the most important point to make here is that, by giving even ONE person extra time to take an exam that countless others have taken, the data and statistics that we use to legitimize the validity of this exam are placed into question. It is difficult or impossible to say that her test results will be admissible when calculating statistics for new exams, because her results could completely skew the data that we collect, thereby rendering the exam illegitimite and thus losing its credibility. This is a VERY serious test, folks; she doesn’t pass, no MD degree for her, and we need to make sure that that severity is maintained for everyone else as well. In a broader, totally generalizing sense, one could even say that, by giving extra accommodations to Ms. Currier, the integrity of all past and future licensed individuals of the USMLE could be compromised.
Why can’t this woman be happy just being a mother? Why does she have to be “everything” to feel important? We live in a society where women think they have to “do it all” to be successful and respected. It is really sad.
This blog has been fascinating to read. I just think MailDeadDrop needs to quit now. She is starting to look quite foolish.
Hey, it’s a free country — if you find my words offensive don’t read ‘em. As a member of the public, I have every right to expect that ER doctors (and other life-critical careers) be fully capable of performing their duties regardless of any underlying condition. taking twice as long to read test results as a “normal” ER doctor does *NOT* sound like she’s fully capable.
As for being a “board certified blah blah blah”, I couldn’t give a rat’s behind. I’m sure that the neonatologist/pediatrician that botched *4* lumbar punctures *AND* the circumcision on my son was “board certified, top-of-the-class” material just like you. He’s still an incompetent “doctor” that I wouldn’t trust with him with a goldfish, let alone my son again.
MailDeadDrop – Persons affected by dyslexia are protected under the Americans’ with Disabilities Act. Receiving extra time to complete an examination is required by law, and the amount of time granted is based on one’s performance on the Woodcock Johnson examination (or a similiar examination). Special accommodations allow for testing over two days (not necessarily double time) or for extended time in one day. Psychologists who administer these diagnostic examinations determine how much extra time one deserves, not the individual who is being tested. It is not of your concern how much extra time Dr Currier gets for her examiniation. Your only concern is if she passes her examination. As a medical consumer, you have the right to choose not to request/accept her services. But to judge her based on her need for extra reading time as opposed to judging her based on her diagnostic/clinical skills is just exposing your own prejudice towards those with disabilities (oh wait, don’t you have one?).
By the way, I am a board certified pediatrician and neonatologist and received extra time to complete my examinations due to my dyslexia. I graduated at the top of my medical school class and completed residency/fellowship at the top-rated pediatrics and neonatology programs in the country. Guess that disability of mine has hampered me and my ability to care for sick infants…
Get your facts straight and educate yourself on dyslexia for your words are incredibly offensive.
Bean’s Mom, maybe your 4-month-old slept long stretches through the night, but not all do (mine didn’t). Many babies of this age continue to nurse every 2-3 hours (despite the misguided information from people like the Ezzos and Heidi Murkoff who think that all babies should be “sleeping through the night” by 3 months– every baby is different). Furthermore, even if a baby sleeps a long stretch AT NIGHT, the mother’s body acclimates to the baby’s schedule; if mother and baby are used to nursing sessions every 2-3 hours DURING THE DAY, then mom’s body will produce milk on that schedule.
I went back to work when my daughter was 10 weeks, and I needed to pump every 2-3 hours until she was well past the six-month mark when solid foods became a part of her diet. Going nine hours with only one pump break at 4 months would have put me at risk for engorgement, mastitis and a reduction in milk supply– not a good situation when a baby’s sole source of nutrition is coming from the breast, as it should be until at least six months of age.
And personally, I don’t know what kind of doctor Sophie Currier is planning on becoming, but I would welcome a care provider who recognizes the benefits of breastfeeding and the risks of formula. I get frustrated when DOCTORS recommend weaning for no other reason than the child has hit some arbitrary age (6 months, 9 months, a year, whatever). They should know better! What a refreshing change that one does.
I know Sophie and wanted to let those of you who are so concerned with her ability to react quickly know that she’s a geneticist….not an ER doctor. She won’t be in any position to cause anyone harm because it takes a bit longer for her to read something. She has a PhD from MIT and an MD from Harvard and she has so much to contribute to her field and to public health. It’s sad that so many people think that dyslexia and motherhood should prevent her from doing that.
Heather, you’re misinterpreting me. I’ve got no problem with her requesting (& hopefully receiving) some accommodation for her to express milk during the exam. Being a nursing mom doesn’t appear to have any bearing on whether she is a fit physician. But receiving *double* the amount of time to take the exam because of dyslexia? That smacks of special treatment. Presumably the medical board has a reason for the time limit. Like maybe they want to be certain that the candidates can process the information in time before the patient DIES. This woman wants us to believe that reason doesn’t apply to her. She can’t have it both ways: either you’ve overcome the disability and are subject to all the rules like everyone else, or you’re disabled and subject to society’s need to have the completely capable in life-critical positions. Let’s take her position to its absurd end: a candidate that takes 10 days to read what a “normal” person can read in 10 seconds. Should they be allowed, oh, 2 years to take the exam? Q: What do you call a person who graduates medical school dead last in her class? A: “Doctor” Would I want her to treat me? Only if every other graduate were unavailable.
Get the hand free double pump bra and express during the exam.
Sit in the back of the class and few people would notice.
All those hormones may help you relax for the test.
Yes!! Milk-spray lactivism! I love it.
The whole thing is stupid. People need to learn that rules can be relaxed in some situations.
MailDeadDrop – Perhaps you don’t understand what it means to be dyslexic. It is simply a visual processing problem with words, nothing more. Being dyslexic doesn’t make one mentally challenged. Being a slow reader doesn’t mean that one is a slow thinker. The woman is NOT putting the public at risk by asking for more time for pumping while taking an examination. 45 minutes is an incredibly short period of break time during an 8 hour exam when one considers that you have to fit snacks for energy, bathroom breaks, stretching one’s legs and a quick mental break. Adding pumping to the mix is just ridiculous. How can one be so unsupportive of this woman’s situation?
Clearly this women has overcome her disabilities if she has graduated from medical school, completed a residency and is preparing for licensing boards. She never would have made it this far if her “disability” truely hindered her. Before one calls her weak or whiny, consider that she has completed residency and taken overnight, in-house call while pregnant, which is an exhausting thought. She has studied for exams while taking care of newborn and likely gotten little sleep in the process. Walk a mile in her shoes before passing judgement. Disability is only a matter of perception. I whole-heartedly disagree with your perception.
Heather,
It is patently apparent that by demanding *DOUBLE* the amount of time to take the exam, she HAS NOT “overcome her disabilities.” Being a licensed practicing physician is NOT a RIGHT — it’s a PRIVILEGE. If she can’t accomplish the required exam under the same conditions as her peers, she has no business putting the public AT RISK.
And before you go around slinging pejoratives like “shallow thinking”, perhaps you’d consider that I have a newphew with dyslexia, and that I have ankylosing spondylitis. I know about “disablement” and about how it would be unfair for my nephew or me to put our wants ahead of the public’s need. It wouldn’t be reasonable for either he or me to be in LIFE CRITICAL careers (such as physician or fireman, respectively) given our disablements.
Surprised to see such hostility towards a nursing mom from other mothers.
As an accomplished neonatologist with dyslexia/dysgraphia, I am horrified by your comments MailDeadDrop! I don’t read charts/labs, etc incorrectly and my patients have certainly never suffered from my slower reading speed. Thinking about the numerous babies I have helped in my career, I can only feel pity for such shallow thinking. If I weren’t able to overcome my disabilities, I would have never gotten to where I am today. Thank goodness my mother never told me that because of my disabilities, I couldn’t follow my dreams. I hate to think that you would shortchange your children’s dreams if they suffer from a learning disability. And as we learn more and more about the way children learn and process information, close to 20% of America’s children do have a learning disability.
Encourage a woman who is trying to do it all – being a mom and a physician is difficult enough without having to be belittled by other women who think they know better. And honestly, you clearly don’t know better.
Heather (from 2:49), I understand your point and you are totally correct if this was an on going thing. Anyone that has to pump at work should be pumping at least twice a day and will need extra time and the privacy to do it. I think it stinks that they are sticking you in a washroom to pump. YUCK! (but then again, sometimes we just gotta do what we gotta do) The thing that gets me with this doctor lady is that people will read about her and it will taint their view of all women asking for concessions becuase they are breastfeeding… people like you and I that actually have to do this every working day. I’m not a complainer and I am willing to work with my employer to come up with a workable solution. This lady needs to be able to relieve engorgement for 2 days, that’s it, all she actually needs but she is turning it into a big bru-ha-ha.
I’m sorry I don’t feel any sympathy for this woman. Speaking as someone who’s other half has done this exam there are ways to gain extra break time that can be carried through the test. You can do the introduction ahead of time and thus skip through this section saving yourself 15 minutes and at the conclusion of each section you gain the time that you haven’t used and that can be put forward into a break. There is a reason these tests are video taped and in an very controlled room as unfortunately these tests are demanding and required for licensing. I think the separate room and 45 minutes to pump is more than fair.
ADHD and dyslexia are both treatable and manageable. It seems odd to me that the board will provide allowances for those things, but not for her need to pump. Shouldn’t a medical board be a little more understanding of biological demands? It might make more sense if she was taking, I don’t know, a Bar exam.
As someone who just went through this issue at work, and got a chair in a handicapped restroom as my “pump room”, I can see her point. Yes, she has been granted extra time but I don’t have either of the handicaps that she does so I can’t say how much time is needed to take her exams. What I do know is that if you don’t pump on a regular basis that you are used to it is extremely painful and can affect your milk supply. In addition to that, I have problems getting my milk to let down in the private restroom let alone in a room with windows all around me. She may be a complainer but I think there is validity in her complaints.
Ummm… I’m missing something… Why does she need an extra 60 min to pump? It takes all of MAYBE 20min to do and she only needs to pump once somewhere in the middle of the day. It’s not like this is a regular thing. It’s 2 days. It’s not going to affect her supply or anything in 2 days. I think this lady is a drama queen.
AND MailDeadDrop has a good point… ADHD and dyslexia bad enough that she needs double the time to write the test and she’s going to be a medical doctor?
Kelly Mills – you are hilarious. MailDeadDrop – that’s just wrong! Thanks for the mid day laugh
Um, does anyone besides me see a problem granting a medical license to someone with ADHD and dyslexia? I want a competent doctor, not someone who will misread my medical test results!
I was all ready to get indignant after reading the first sentence of this post, but then I read more and started to lose my support for this woman. I mean she has already been granted twice the amount of time than is standard to take the test as well as a room to pump her breasts. The room may lack complete privacy, but there are ways that you can make do. She just strikes me as one of those people who will complain about everything and demand special accommodations for things that other people have been managing well with for years without making such a big fuss. You mean to tell me that her breasts have never been without stimulation for an extended period of time? What does she do when her 4-month old sleeps for long stretches at night? Besides, a few minutes is all you need if you just want to pump to relieve engorgement (versus pumping to save for a later feeding).