Lesbians Object
to Doctor's Comments During Clinic Visit

A Michigan hospital is investigating a claim by a lesbian couple that a physician told them same-sex unions are contrary to his Christian beliefs. The incident occurred at Spectrum Health's South Pavilion in Cutlerville. Ashleigh Haberman notified Spectrum by e-mail that she and her partner, Erica Schaub, had gone to the urgent care center for treatment of Schaub's lingering cold. Schaub told The Grand Rapids Press for a report published Sunday that the doctor asked who she was in relation to Schaub, and Schaub replied they were "life partners." "She didn't even have that out of her mouth before he said, 'So what do you guys feel about your ruling in California?"' Haberman recalled. "As soon as he looked at us, he knew we were gay, and he was looking for an opportunity to start that conversation." Haberman said they told the doctor they agreed with the ruling allowing gay couples to legally marry and that they had been married in Canada. The doctor then allegedly said gay marriage "shouldn't be called marriage" because it is a religious-based word and, as a Christian, he did not consider gay marriage legal, Haberman said. Spectrum Health's investigation probably will not be complete until sometime this week, spokesman Bruce Rossman said. "We expect our physicians and staff to provide high-quality care in a professional manner," Spectrum said in a statement. Rossman declined to identify the doctor, who did not return calls from the Press for comment. Haberman said she and Schaub did not want the doctor fired and do not plan to file a lawsuit. "I didn't want it to happen to somebody else," she said. "I'm not asking him to be OK with it. I'm asking him to do his job." (AP)