Poz Woman Suing After Being Refused Gall Bladder Surgery

A 35 year old HIV-positive female prisoner has filed a federal lawsuit because her doctor refused to perform surgery on her gall bladder.

Melody Rose's case is supported by gay equality advocates Lambda Legal and the AIDS Resource Centre of Wisconsin (ARCW). The lawsuit was filed today in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin. Ms Rose says the defendants –- Steven Cahee, MD, Agnesian HealthCare Inc, and Fond du Lac Regional Clinic, violated four different state and federal laws, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and its state law counterpart, which both prohibit disability discrimination by places of public accommodation, including healthcare providers.

Rose's surgery was eventually performed by a doctor at a different medical facility.