Muncie, Ind.—
A Central Indiana hospital is investigating claims that its staff ridiculed and refused to treat a transgender patient.Advocacy groups have filed complaints against Ball Memorial Hospital in Muncie saying Erin Vaught was inhumanely treated, dehumanized and disrespected.
Vaught says she has known since she was very young that she was born in the wrong body.
"I remember when I was five telling my mother that I was a girl and she said, 'no you're a boy."
But since transitioning from male to female, Vaught says a weight has been lifted off her shoulders. That is until she went to the hospital for a lung condition.
"Nurses were sticking their heads in saying so is it a he or is it a she?"
When Vaught went to the bathroom, she says nurses began badgering her partner.
"She said, 'she is my wife not an it. Not a he.' And they said, 'we don't know and until we know he's going to be an it," she remembers.
Several hours went by and Vaught asked when she would be seen by a doctor.
"She said, 'we don't know how to treat someone in your condition.' And I said, 'what's my condition? That's what I'm here to find out.' And she goes, 'no not that condition. The transvestite thing."
Completely humiliated, Vaught walked out and later voiced her frustration on Ball Memorial Hospital's Facebook page. Overnight, Vaught had hundreds of supporters expressing their outrage. Hospital officials vowed to conduct an internal investigation, but weeks later, Vaught says, she's yet to hear anything.
"We've sent them letters addressing what their policies are and what they're going to do to correct this kind of behavior," says Vivian Benge of the Indiana Transgender Rights Advocacy Alliance (INTRAA).
Advocacy groups have filed complaints with the hospital in hopes that they change their behavior and provide people like Erin Vaught with the care she deserves.
"You don't have to accept me but I just want my rights," says Vaught.
Ball Memorial Hospital President Michael E. Haley released the following statement:
"The hospital is committed to providing care with respect, dignity and courtesy ... all staff are trained to embrace and act in accordance with core values ... including compassion, respect and customer care."
